President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday warned against vote-buying in the ongoing barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, saying that it deprives citizens of their right to choose their leaders.

Marcos made the statement in response to reports of vote-buying in different parts of the country, including in his home province of Ilocos Norte.

"Unfortunately, there are still those who attempt to buy votes, especially at night. Last night, there were some reports, even here in Ilocos Norte, of individuals trying to buy votes for the barangay election," Marcos said.

The President said that the government is doing everything it can to stop vote-buying, but he urged citizens to also play their part by reporting any suspicious activity to the police or the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

"My advice to our fellow citizens is not to throw away your right to choose your barangay officials. You know that barangay officials are the ones you interact with every day. They are the ones you turn to for help with your problems," Marcos told reporters in a media interview.

"So, if you reduce it to just payments, you lose your voice, and you won't be able to select the people who should truly lead your barangay and those who can genuinely help you face the various daily challenges you bring to the barangay officials."

Marcos also stressed the importance of barangay elections in terms of governance and mid-term elections.

"Barangay elections are crucial for governance because barangays are the frontlines of government service. Barangay officials are the ones who are directly responsible for delivering essential services to their constituents," Marcos said.

"Barangay elections are also important for mid-term elections because barangay officials play a key role in mobilizing voters and campaigning for candidates. So, it is important to elect barangay officials who are competent, honest, and dedicated to serving their constituents."

The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are being held on 30 October 2023.

Marcos Jr. was one of the first individuals to cast his vote in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Monday.

The Chief Executive voted at Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Batac, Ilocos Norte, in Precinct 0036A, Cluster Number 0036A, shortly after 7:00 a.m.

A video shared by Radio Television Malacañang on social media showed that the President finished the voting process for his preferred representative in under six minutes.

He voted for a Punong Barangay (barangay chairman) and seven Sangguniang Barangay (barangay councilors).

Accompanying Marcos Jr. was his son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos.

The barangay election represents the smallest political and administrative unit in the country, embodying the principles of democracy and community cooperation.