Abalos: Be vigilant vs election fraud, cheating

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos on Monday morning urged the voting public to report fraud and cheating incidents in polling precincts, as the scheduled 30 October barangay and Sangguniang Kabataas elections finally went underway.

Abalos issued the call shortly before casting his vote at Highway Hills Integrated School on Barangay Highway Hills in Mandaluyong City, pointing out that ensuring fraud-free and credible elections is a greater responsibility of the voters than just merely casting their votes.

"The greater effort sa araw na ito is from every one of us na boboto. If you see na may nandaraya, ireport n'yo kaagad. Ipakita natin sa buong mundo na tahimik at maayos ang botohan sa ating bansa," Abalos said.

Reiterating his message against vote-buying, the DILG Secretary said the electorate must consider that barangay leaders will be key in the efficient and effective delivery of basic services in their respective communities for the next three years.

"Huwag kayong magpadala sa pera. Kung sa tingin ninyo ang kandidatong ito ay hindi karapat-dapat, huwag ninyong iboto."

Abalos also commended the Philippine National Police (PNP) for effectively maintaining peace and order throughout the country on the days leading to the BSKE.

He said the proactive actions of the PNP and its coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) resulted in creating a generally peaceful situation throughout the nation.

"Sa PNP, keep up the good work, kasama ang mga guro ang Armed Forces of the Philippines at Comelec. The whole team is doing a great job, tulungan lamang ito. Hindi puwedeng mapagod," he said.

Meanwhile, PNP-National Capital Region Police Office Regional Director PB/Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said BSKE in NCR is generally peaceful so far with only four cases of vote-buying reported in Metro Manila and three incidents of violation of liquor ban.