Comelec: Caraga ‘green’ for BSKE 2023 despite Socorro group issue

Caraga is still in the "green" category ahead of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) despite cult allegations against an organization in the region, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia said Tuesday.

Garcia said that issues involving the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) in Socorro Surigao del Norte are not related to the preparations for the upcoming polls, but that the Comelec will still monitor the Senate hearing on the matter.

“We will monitor the hearing on Thursday. The issues hounding Socorro have no relation whatsoever [to] the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) preparation. At this point, everything is all but assumptions,” he told reporters after the Comelec’s BSKE 2023 2nd Regional Joint Security Control Center Command Conference in Butuan City.

Garcia said the Caraga region is still in the green category, which means generally peaceful.

The SBSI has been invited to appear before a Senate committee after allegations of rape, child marriages, illegal drug involvement, and building a private army. 

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it is considering 246 barangays for inclusion in the "red" category as election areas of concern, to be placed under Comelec control.

Most of these barangays are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, and Bicol, according to PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo.

A total of 1,248 barangays are considered for the orange category, while 1,100 for the yellow category.

Areas under the yellow category have reported suspected election-related incidents in the last two polls and have intense partisan political rivalry and candidates possibly employing partisan armed groups. These areas may also be previously declared under the Comelec control.

Orange areas exhibit two or more factors under the yellow category or a serious armed threat posed by local terrorist groups and other threat groups.

The red category refers to areas with one or more factors described under the yellow category and serious armed threats posed by local terrorist groups.

The PNP is aiming to finalize its recommendations on election areas of concern by the end of September.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard have their own monitoring on possible election areas of concern. These lists will be consolidated and will be forwarded to the Comelec for approval.

BSKE 2023 will take place on October 30. — BM, GMA Integrated News