THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) expressed its commitment to ensuring clean, honest, and peaceful campaigning by candidates and their supporters during the entire campaign period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2023.
In a statement, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said police visibility remains a priority and the Philippine National Police (PNP) is ready to deploy more personnel particularly in areas determined by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as areas of concern, in its bid to maintain public safety and security and prevent all forms of election-related violence in communities.
“Voting is a sacred exercise of our democratic rights. Napakahalaga ng inyong mga boto lalo na’t malaki ang papel na ginagampanan ng mga barangay sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa at polisiya ng pamahalaan. That’s why I call on everyone: let’s work together to protect our electoral process against those who commit vote-buying and vote-selling. Wakasan natin ang kanser ng lipunan na ito!” explains Abalos in the statement.
“Kasama ng COMELEC at ng mga mamamayang Pilipino ang DILG at ang PNP sa pagbabantay at pagtitiyak ng mapayapang pagdaraos ng halalan, mula kampanya hanggang sa bilangan. Sama-sama nating itaguyod ang maayos, malinis, at matiwasay na eleksyon ng ating mga barangay officials tungo sa pagkamit ng ating mithiin na isang Bagong Pilipinas,” the statement added.