ELECTION paraphernalia for the Oct. 30, 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will start arriving in Cebu on Tuesday, Oct. 17, from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) head office in Manila.
According to Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesman of Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, they are now preparing to comply with the order of the Philippine National Police to provide security escort to government officials who will bring the voting materials to Cebu.
However, Pelare made it clear that police officers are not permitted to board the van carrying the ballots to avoid suspicion.
“Of course, we don’t want anyone to question our police officers. So there are protocols to be followed,” Pelare said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Meanwhile, he said the PRO 7 and Comelec will reactivate the Oplan Kontra Bigay program to apprehend individuals involved in vote buying.
However, he said the evidence needs to be strong to prove that a certain BSKE candidate is engaged in the illegal practice.
The campaign period will start on Oct. 19 and end on Oct. 28.
The voting hours on Oct. 30 will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The last day of the filing of the Statement of Contribution and Expenditures will be on Nov. 29.