Barangay election season officially begins...

On Friday, 11th of October, thousands of aspiring politicians will be trooping to the different Commission on Election (Comelec) offices around the country to file their certificate of candidacies (COCs) as they try their luck in dipping their hands into the field of "public service".  Thousands of incumbents will also be heading to the Comelec as they will again try to woo constituents to vote for them.

The barangay election is a local election involving candidates who personally know each other. But according to the Comelec and the Philippine National Police, the barangay election is the most violent and the most bloody of all polls in the country. Election-related violence is expected in far-flung barangays, where candidates often go personal just to destroy the credibility of their opponents, and hopefully win votes.

We can expect members of the same family running against each other. Relatives hurling accusations against another relative, destroying not just the reputation of the opponent but of the entire family. Neighbors killing another neighbor just to win a barangay council seat. How sad, especially when you start thinking that these people are running in the name of "public service".

Barangay Elections Tidbits

As the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections nears, allow me to share some tidbits that you might find funny or whatever. :)

- In Cebu City, a barangay captain seeking reelection was already several days on his campaign when he found out that he could not run for barangay captain because the certificate of candidacy (COC) he filed at the Comelec Office was for barangay Kagawad.

- Still in Cebu, several SK councilors also got the lesson of their lives when they found out that the COC they filed was for barangay councilor. A Comelec official said that should these candidates vying for SK council win, they still cannot sit as barangay councilors because they are still under age.

- In one barangay in Bohol, a candidate said he is ready to spend P50,000 for his campaign as barangay Councilor. With only P1,200 monthly honorarium that he will get if he wins in the election, he can only get P43,200 in 3 years. I wonder how he will recover his expenses in such a short term. :)

- It is also very common to see similar family names in one line up. A father is running for barangay chairman. His two sons are seeking council seats. His youngest daughter runs for SK chairman. His wife? He promised her she will get a barangay position when he becomes chairman.