Comelec Reports Successful Conduct of BSKE in Bicol with No Election Failures

Legazpi City — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Bicol reported a 70 percent voter turnout across six provinces — Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, and Masbate — in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

According to Philippines News Agency, the elections were conducted successfully without any failure across 3,471 barangays in the region. Valeza further stated that candidates and supporters complied with campaign regulations, and there were no instances of unlawful election activities.

A total of 1,597,214 registered voters participated in the SK elections, and 4,040,855 were regular voters. The number of regular precincts was 24,161, SK precincts totaled 24,083, and clustered precincts were 12,269. Valeza also acknowledged the 42,993 teachers in the region who served as members of the electoral boards.

Valeza noted that public safety measures in Libon, Albay — a town placed under Comelec control due to a series of killings of barangay officials — were effective. She said, “We augmented troops, implemented a curfew, and the public was very receptive and cooperative. The election in Libon is okay.”

Regarding the proclamation of winners, Valeza mentioned that three candidates who won as barangay captains in the region will not be proclaimed due to Comelec orders. “They have been charged with conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct, and serious dishonesty. They have been sentenced by final judgment due to acts of lasciviousness, malversation of public funds and premature campaigning,” she said.

Assistance is being coordinated for a teacher who died in a road accident during the elections. The victim, Amelia Armario, 54, was a teacher at Bogtong Elementary School in Barangay Bogtong, Legazpi City. She was serving as the chairman of the electoral board at Tamaoyan Elementary School when she was involved in a fatal collision while on her way to vote.

The Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) also confirmed that the elections were generally peaceful, with only minor poll-related incidents recorded. Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, PRO-5 spokesperson, said that the police force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines made early and thorough preparations, deploying 10,000 personnel near polling precincts and strategic areas across the region.