BSKE a success in three voting centers at OLLP

Barangay Sangguniang Kabataan Election held on 30 October 2023 was generally peaceful in three voting centers within the jurisdiction of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bangkal; namely at Doña Soledad Dolor Elementary School, Duterte National High School, and Leon Gracia Elementary School.

At Dolor Elementary School, one PSAM volunteer was asked to witness the opening of casting of ballot at exactly 7am; the casting of ballot was closed at 3pm with only an estimated 80-90% of voters casted.

Dolor Principal Mrs. Hazel Linaza was so pleased by the presence of six PPCRV-ECHAMP volunteers and one media volunteer from DXGN Spirit-FM at the Dolor voting center.

Same number of volunteers were also present at the Duterte National High School; while OLLP Disaster Team, who are also members of the barangay police team, were responsible in monitoring election incidents at the Leon Garcia Elementary School.

The election-watch team of volunteers from the Our Lady of Lourdes Parishes was headed by PSAM Coordinator Ofelia Bautista, assisted by Norjun Bernasor and his family for the computer works.

OLLP Parish Priest Henry Campeon was so delighted for election of the parish; for such, the parish office shouldered meals and snacks courtesy of Father Campeon.

Poll watchers of the incumbent barangay Chairman were noticeably waiting outside perimeters of the three voting centers even after they casted their votes; while poll watchers of one candidate for barangay Chairman were noticeably roaming inside premises of these three schools even when they already casted their votes and for unreasonable number of minutes. Apparently, these watchers wore their respective identification cards with the candidate’s affixed signature but without ID pictures.

Their improper usage of identification cards and strolling inside the school premises alarmed the barangay police and asked their presence to vacate the school, this caused oral-exchanged arguments between the barangay police and said poll watchers in three schools despite the presence of uniformed policemen outside school perimeters; but they eventually dispersed silently upon the arrival of the COMELEC white vehicle, first at Dolor, then at Duterte, then lastly at Leon Garcia.

Except for the minimal arguments between the poll watchers and the barangay police, no serious untoward incident took place at the three voting centers in Bangkal; the counting of ballots started peacefully with uniformed policemen at the gates of the three voting centers in Bangkal. (Vonz M. Hijada, OLLP SoCCom)