PARTISAN POLITICS. Allegations of politicization and vote-buying were persistent problems that hindered last month’s barangay elections. (Photo from gov.ph)

NEW OFFICIALS in 40,028 different communities across the country await their seats as captains and kagawads after barangay elections were concluded on October 28. Winning candidates in 91% of the barangays were announced mere hours after the designated period for the polls.

“We promised that this will be a fast-moving proclamation—within 24 hours after end of the voting,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. told The Philippine Daily Inquirer when vote-casting officially ended.

The barangay elections concluded the 2013 election cycle that started in May for the members of the Philippine Congress and provincial, city and municipal offices.

The nine percent

Despite the COMELEC’s swift operations, a significant number of barangays have yet to seat new officials due to various political and technical complications.

Barangay elections in Zamboanga were rescheduled due to the disruption brought about by the armed conflict between the government and Misuari faction of the Moro National Liberation Front. Bohol elections were also put off in light of the devastation left behind by the October 15 earthquake that caused over 200 deaths and left thousands homeless.

According to Teopisto Elnas, Director of the Comelec’s Elections and Barangay Affiairs Department, special elections still need to be held in 98 barangays in Zamboanga City and 1,109 barangays in Bohol. “The polls [in Zamboanga and Bohol] [have been] postponed for now because of the recent tragedies that struck those areas. Special elections will be held on November 25, five days before the terms of the incumbents end,” he said.

Meanwhile, polls in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao were stopped after teachers refused to serve their duties as part of the Board of Election Tellers out of fear of politicians’ threats. In order to prevent the failure of elections, the local government commissioned over 700 Philippine National Police officers to assume their places as official tellers.

Similarly, elections in 43 barangays across North Cotobato, Samar, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Basilan failed to push through because teachers failed to report to polling precincts. Due to inclement weather and election-related violence, 26 other barangays in Calayan Island and Basilan are also set to hold special elections.

Partisan politics

In addition to these difficulties, partisanship, politicization and vote buying were persistent problems that hindered the generally smooth operation of the elections.

“By law, barangay elections aren’t even supposed to be political in the sense of exhibiting the intense partisanship which characterizes other types of elections in which political parties and their candidates are allowed to surface and compete for voters’ allegiance,” says Vice President for Social Development Atty. Jaime Hofileña. He cited Section 38 of Republic Act No. 881, stating that no candidate is allowed to represent any political party or organization.

Henrietta de Villa, chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, said that barangay elections have become just as lucrative as those in the local and national levels. “It has become a money matter already,” she told ANC. De Villa added that barangay polls are now more “politicized” and affirmed that they have become “partisan.”

Chito Ambrosio, candidate for Kagawad in Barangay Oranbo, Pasig City, says the same of the elections: “Mapulitika ang eleksyon. National, local, barangay… hindi ‘yan mawawala. Kung wala kang perang pangampanya, hindi ka kikilalanin ng tao. ‘Yan ang katotohanan (Elections are highly politicized. National, local, barangay… that will always remain. If you do not have the money to campaign, people will not recognize you. That is the truth).”

De Villa also told ANC about reported incidents of vote-buying and even vote-selling at the barangay level. Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas ordered the investigation of seven cases, with candidates allegedly buying votes through the provision of food or money.

Atty. Holifena said that the politicization of elections is within the hands of the voters. “If the constituencies are beholden to the spoils of patronage, then the clout which barangay officials may exert upon them would be crucial to determining where and how political winds blow and how political sands shift,” he said.

Reassessing youth involvement

Originally scheduled to commence simultaneously with the 2013 Barangay Elections, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections have been postponed following Republic Act 9340, which orders that it be rescheduled to a date between October 28, 2014 and February 23, 2015. The exact date has yet to be decided. The Act also mandates that no officials shall serve as holdovers for any vacant SK positions within the period.

The amendment was spearheaded by head of Senate Committee on Local Government Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. in response to allegations that the SK’s inefficient system became “a breeding ground for political dynasty and exposed the youth to corruption and the practice of traditional politicians.” The decision to postpone the elections was a revision of the earlier calls to abolish the system completely.

Caloocan city Representative Edgar Erice, one of the foremost authors of the bill, says that the postponement will allow for an in-depth reassessment of the SK system and will serve as a step towards implementing the necessary reforms.

Based on his observations of the SK in their community, Ambrosio said that the postponement would be beneficial. “Sa tingin ko mabuti na i-ponostpone ang eleksyon ng SK. Hindi sila gaano ka-visible… Kung ang silbi ng SK ay mag-empower ng kabataan, mukhang kinakailangan ng higit pang reporma upang mas mabisa nilang magampanan ang papel na iyon (I think it is good that the SK elections were postponed. They are not that visible… If their purpose is to empower the youth, then it looks like further reform is needed for them to more effectively carry out that role).”