Comelec Cebu to inspect local election offices

CEBU, Philippines — All city and election offices under Cebu Province will be ‘inspected’ in relation to their preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls on October 23.

Beginning September 8, Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano will go around the province for two weeks to personally conduct inspections in all local government units under his wing.

“Atong gitan-aw kung unsa’y kulang para mahibaw-an daan. Tibuok Cebu na apil ang islands,” he said.

Aside from election paraphernalia and personnel, Castillano said that he will also check if the offices are compliant with the requirements of the Commission on Elections.

As stated on the Comelec website, there must be one election officer, assisted by at least one election assistant, in every city, municipality or legislative district whose main function is to supervise the conduct of electoral activities.

Castillano is accompanied by some representatives from the Commission on Audit who regularly check the transactions of the Comelec field offices.

“Mag-inspection ta sa tanang opisina. Ang COA pud kay nag-audit sa among offices,” he added.

Meanwhile, the election period will begin on September 23. It is also the day when the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) will begin. The resolution by the Comelec en banc on the guidelines for the filing of COCs is yet to arrive.

Comelec had also posted on its site the important dates during the election period, which is set for October 13 to 21. The inspection and verification of completeness of the Voters Registration Records (VRRs) as well as the sealing of the Book of Voters for each barangay and SKs will be on September 23 to 30.

“We must follow sa among calendar of activities kung unsa’y angay buhaton alang sa eleksyon. Naa man ta’y timeline. If ever diay og October 23 (ang elections) unya mapasar ang balaud (to postpone it) og October 21 na, di wa ta’y mahimo ana, di ta mag-election,” remarked Castillano.

Should the elections not push through, the government would lose about P1 billion, according to a Comelec official. —/JBB (FREEMAN)