Ecija BSKE 2023 bets hold candidates forum
PALAYAN CITY — About 859 candidates for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls in this capital city of Nueva Ecija joined a candidates forum held yesterday.
Some of the questions raised and briefly tackled include: “Can an SK chair aspirant like me attend a baptismal celebration where I am one of the ninongs” and “What shall I do if I got a text message saying,”Magdala ka sa akin ng 10 tao bibigyan ko ng P300 each.”
The 859 BSKE bets, who represent the 19 barangays of this capital city, also earlier joined a “Unity Walk/Inter-Faith Rally” led by city police head Lt. Col. Chito B. Macapac, Brig.Gen. Joseph Norwin D. Pasamonte, commander,703rd Agila Brigade, 7ID, Senior Insp. Randy P. Garcia, city fire marshall, and City PPCRV head Eduardo Alvendia.
Also joining them in the activity at Plaza Concepcion yesterday were city DILG officer Marcelina A. Javier, Dr. Lydia M. Cabantac, principal, Palayan City Central School; Rev. Fr. Nezzel O. Lirio, Rev. Pastor Noel Santiago, and city election officer Anabelle Kristine G. Carillo.
“Kung maiiwasan ay iwasan na lang ang dumalo (sa binyagan). Hindi mapipigilan ang inyong kalaban na magsampa ng habla ng premature campaigning,” said Carillo, during the candidates forum.
She warned: “Kayo na rin kasi mismo sa sarili nyo ang nakakaalam kung may pangangampanya nga kayong ginagawa, kaya iwasan na lang muna hanggat di pa sumasapit ang takdang campaigning. Wait until October 19.”
On the question about a text message sent by a candidate giving P300 to each voter, she said the “text evidence” must be put in an affidavit of offer and acceptance through a verified complaint filed with the Commission on Elections.
Macaspac earlier said that Palayan City has “zero areas of concern” for the BSKE 2023, noting that the city remains generally-peaceful, with no untoward incidents occurring since the election season started in August 28.
As part of “community engagement,” he said he will pay regular visits and conduct dialogues with the barangay candidates to address their security concerns in their area.
Comelec chief Carillo said three bets for barangay captain vying in barangays Ganaderia, Bagong Buhay and Maligaya are running unopposed in next month’s BSKE.
There are 55 bets for punong barangay, 450 for kagawads, 49 for SK chair, and 305 for SK members.
