From the Newsrooms: Death and disorder mar barangay polls

October 30 to November 5, 2023

NEWS CAPTURED the political violence that bloodied the first barangay elections in five years. Delayed twice by the pandemic, the vote for grassroots leaders was hotly contested around the country, and the participation of over 68 million registered voters was expected to be high. In the late afternoon of October 30, not one of the over 40,000 barangays declared its failure to conduct the polls.

On the eve of the election day, the Philippine Daily Inquirer followed Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Garcia and three commissioners to Bangued, capital of Abra, making the visit a banner story on October 30. Garcia referred to the image of Abra as a “war zone” and said that if Abra could hold peaceful elections, it could be done anywhere else in the country. Comelec had called for mobilization of more police and military for the conduct of the polls. Abra was not completely peaceful even with the deployment of some 352 law enforcement agents to beef up security personnel. A shooting incident in the town of Tineg caused a disturbance but no one was hurt. 

Actually, the competition for the barangay unleashed a cycle of violence that should not be allowed to pass without more public discussion. CMFR tallied a total of 51 barangay officials and candidates killed even before the certificates of candidacy were filed.  

Comelec relies on their ground units to confirm all these reported deaths as election-related. The press must check the criteria for such confirmation and the length of time it takes to classify these cases. 

Violence affects the integrity of elections overall. Elections in the Philippines have been notorious for the high influence of “guns, goons and gold.”  Media coverage should not contribute to the acceptance of some violence as a norm. 

Garcia affirmed that polls were indeed peaceful outside of BARMM. News accounts (CNN Philippines, ABS-CBN, Manila Times, Manila Bulletin, GMA News) from October 30 to November 1 also cited poll watchdog groups, including the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) saying the same thing. Maybe, they all spoke too soon. 

By October 31, there was much to counter this judgement, what with 19 confirmed casualties and 244 violent incidents –  “mauling” and “malicious mischief” recorded in precincts from the north in the Cordillera to Calabarzon all the way to Zamboanga Peninsula in the south. Not to speak of cases of vote-buying and other forms of intimidation and harassment. 

The Philippine National Police was reported to have said that cases of violence were recorded in all regions of the country, and that the record of such incidents was higher than the barangay polls in 2013. 

Teachers and poll duty 

Only Inquirer and CNN Philippines reported that more than 2,500 teachers in the BARMM region did not show up for election duties. Initially, on October 31, the Comelec said criminal and administrative charges would be filed against these teachers, but Garcia backtracked on November 3, saying they would investigate the case. While Garcia talked about overtime pay and compensation, the role of teachers in the conduct of elections calls for urgent review. 

It has been questioned in the past as it exposes teachers not only to physical danger but also to political pressures. This issue is currently and significantly heightened by the political profile of Sara Duterte and her position as education secretary, a situation desperately seeking prompt attention. 

Media coverage during the week mapped out the concerns that call for immediate action on the part of Comelec and other government agencies. But the public should bear in mind that as an independent constitutional commission, Comelec holds primary responsibility over the conduct of local and national elections. It should be ready to address the problems that the barangay polls showed up this year while there is still time. 

Japan initiates talks for “reciprocal access” 

The visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to Manila raised shared concerns about peace and security beyond the level of rite and ritual. Reports picked up the discussion of a “reciprocal access agreement,” much like the visiting Forces Agreement with the United States.  

Media also reported Kishida’s address to the special joint session of Senate and House of Representatives on November 4, when he spoke about the trilateral cooperation among Japan, the Philippines and the US to uphold “free and open international order based on the rule of law,”  with stress on the like-mindedness of the three countries in dealing with China’s claims. 

Journalists in the country should prepare to follow up on this development which projects Japan’s profile as a regional force and its more pro-active response to China’s rising militancy.