DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño said Thursday, May 10, that they were verifying reports of vote buying and harassment ahead of the Barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Diño said vote buying was reported in Abra, San Rafael in Bulacan, Antipolo City and 17 cities in Metro Manila, including Quezon City and Marikina.
He added that they have also received video footage of some municipal mayors, congressmen and governors "harassing" those running against their candidates.
"Pakiusap natin dito sa mga local government officials natin lalo na sa national sana naman pabayaan na nila ang mga taga-barangay na pumili ng kanilang barangay captain. Sana naman wag na sila makialam sa election na ito," he said.
(We are requesting our local government officials not to intervene in the Barangay elections.)
Diño said that once these complaints are verified, the DILG will be filing administrative charges against the said officials. This could lead to their "perpetual disqualification."
Earlier, in a television interview, DILG officer-in-charge Eduardo Año said they have ordered several mayors to explain after they were reported to be involved in the whittling down of barangay candidates to a single slate.
Diño said the areas mentioned are possible election hotspots.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the number of election hotspots has increased.
A total of 7,915 areas nationwide have been declared as election hotspots.
Of these, 2,325 are under yellow category (Category 1), 4,971 under orange category (Category 2) while 619 are in red category (Category 2).
He said the biggest number of election hotspots are in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and in Bicol Region with 1,415 and 1,304 election hotspots, respectively.
PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would be in the position to identify these hotspots. (VoxPop Philippines)