• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Troopers of the elite PNP Special Action Force were deployed yesterday, within the vicinity of the municipal hall of Isabela in Negros Occidental, in line with the conduct of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation elections, which was described by some town residents as “hotly contested.”
Teodora Sumagaysay, provincial director of the Department of Interior and Local Government, yesterday admitted sending her deputy, Ruth Leda Alagban, to supervise the conduct of the SK Federation elections, held at the town Sangguniang Bayan session hall, as decided by the Board of Election Supervisors (BES), which is composed of DILG, Commission on Elections, and the SB secretary.
Rep. Emilio “Dino” Yulo yesterday administered the oath taking of 17 newly elected SK barangay chairpersons of Isabela, after failing to secure copies of their oath of office and certificate of mandatory training on November 13, which form part of their requirements to participate in the elections.
Yulo said he will relay the issues and concerns raised by SK chairpersons to the DILG provincial and regional offices, for appropriate action.
Upon checking with the Local Youth Development Office of Isabela, Sumagaysay said she was told that some SK chairpersons were not able to get their certificates, as they went home early on Nov. 13. But it was distributed to them prior to the conduct of elections, she added.
During the validation of issues and concerns being raised in Isabela, Sumagaysay said there was nothing unusual that took place, and all activities within the guidelines set by DILG and National Youth Commission.
But to ensure that the conduct of SK elections will be smooth, orderly, and peaceful, the DILG provincial director said she deployed three of her deputies who are DILG cluster heads, not only Isabela, but to other LGUs of the province, which she said is being normally done by the DILG.
It is better for us to be proactive, rather than to act if there are already problems. We don’t want that to happen in any LGUs of Negros Occidental, Sumagaysay stressed.
She dismissed the issues and concerns raised in connection with the SK elections in Isabela, as plain and simple misunderstanding.
As to the reported SK chairperson and his family, who were reported missing in Binalbagan prior to the elections, Sumagaysay said the assigned DILG cluster head did not report any.
Before the holding of SK Federation elections, Sumagaysay said she had repeatedly warned DILG officers to always be neutral.
As to her message to elected SK officials, Sumagaysay said “Let’s try to cooperate and stick to the guidelines being set both by DILG and NYC.”
“At the end of the day, it is their battle, and not of politicians. As early as this, they should not allow themselves to be used by politicians,” she added.*
