Comelec: All BSKE winners proclaimed

MANILA, Philippines — Canvassing and proclamation of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election (BSKE) winners in all 42,001 barangays nationwide have been completed,  the Commisson on Elections (Comelec) announced yesterday.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia reported that winners in all the barangays in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where most of the election-related violent incidents occurred, were already proclaimed.

“The only remaining unproclaimed candidates were the ones ordered suspended by the Commission and (those in) areas where the electoral board availed itself of the five-day notice rule,” Garcia said.

No failure of election was declared anywhere.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said over 19,000 barangay captains and 17,160 youth council winners have been proclaimed.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. lauded the generally peaceful conduct of this year’s BSKE.

“No threat group was able to cause any disruption in the voting process, and the several election-related incidents reported weren’t able to prevent our citizens from exercising their right to vote for their preferred barangay officials and youth leaders,” Brawner announced.

Abalos urged all candidates, winners and losers alike, to respect the results of the BSKE.

“Now is the time to work. We have a lot of advocacies. Of course, the President stresses that the economy is very important. Look at the fundamentals – peace and order are very important,” Abalos said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

He encouraged the incoming officials, especially SK winners, to help the national and local governments to curb illegal drugs in their communities.

“It is very important to be the shepherd of peers to avoid drugs. Encourage programs and be shepherds of peace,” he added.

He noted that there are a slew of issues that need to be addressed in the communities, such as HIV, malnutrition, and the youth.

He also noted the importance of the barangay, a unique government unit in the Philippines, as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Abalos said the Department of the Interior and Local Government is studying proposals to provide a salary for