Comelec urges local officials not to meddle in barangay polls

“Barangay elections present the better opportunity for women to run and campaign as it will be cheaper since they already know almost everyone in their communities,” Guanzon added. (Photo: Philippine Information Agency Caraga/ Facebook)

MANILA–An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) asked local officials not to meddle in the conduct of the Barangay polls this October.

Comelec Commissioner and head of the Gender and Development (GAD) Executive Committee Rowena Guanzon believes that the October 23 village polls will be fair to both male and female candidates if local officials will keep their hands off the polls.

“They should be hands off the barangay elections. Thru this, there will be a chance to break the cycle and give more women the confidence to run and have a fair chance to win barangay posts,” she said in a press conference at the launch of GAD projects for the forthcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections at activities in celebration of International Women’s Day on Wednesday.

She noted that women aspirants should take advantage and participate in the October polls.

“Barangay elections present the better opportunity for women to run and campaign as it will be cheaper since they already know almost everyone in their communities,” Guanzon added.

The poll body official is calling on women and girls to participate in electoral exercise not just as voters but also aspirants for elective posts, which are currently dominated by males.

At the same time, Guanzon reported that at present, only 29 percent or 86 members of House of Representatives are female.

The Comelec is conducting special satellite registrations to encourage women and girls to register as regular and youth voters, respectively in connection with the forthcoming polls.