Regardless of any possible postponement of the barangay and local youth council elections, the Philippine National Police is ready to enforce a nationwide gun ban to secure the political exercise.
A report on radio dzBB quoted PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa as saying police personnel would set up checkpoints for unlicensed firearms, as part of the measures to secure the elections of barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabatan (SK) members.
Moreover, he said security preparations will go on as scheduled, as the Commission on Elections has not ordered postponing of the local polls yet.
The PNP is ready to enforce the election gun ban at the start of the campaign period, some 10 days before polls on October 25, the report said.
There are moves to postpone the village and youth council elections.
On Tuesday, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said they will prioritize the passage of a bill postponing the Oct. 25 polls. [See: Senate to discuss proposals to defer barangay, SK polls]
Also, the House of Representatives has scheduled a hearing on proposals seeking to postpone the October polls.
But the Comelec has urged Congress not to postpone the polls, saying voters want the elections to push through as scheduled.
The last day of registration for the Barangay polls was on Friday, August 13. As for the SK elections, it will be on Sunday, August 15. Voters may register from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Office of the Election Officer in the city or municipality where the applicant resides, even during weekends.
Last Friday, the Comelec noted a low voter registration turnout at 1.6 million new registrants out of the 3.8-million target.
Poll body’s spokesman James Jimenez noted that moves at both chambers of Congress to postpone the polls might have discouraged voters from registering.
“The hovering possibility of postponement of the October 25 polls could have discouraged a large number of our kababayans to go out and register," Jimenez said. [See: Low turnout for barangay, SK list-up] — LBG
