Unopposed local bets among reasons for low voter registration in Sulu –local exec

PATIKUL, Sulu - Unopposed local candidates was one of the reasons for the low voter registration in Sulu, Provincial Election Supervisor Vidzfar Julie said Sunday.

Since December 12 or the start of the registration period for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Sulu Provincial Election Supervisor Office received around 12,000 applications for voter registration from the 19 municipalities of the province.

In Sulu, Julie said there are around 434,000 registered regular voters and 173,000 voters for the youth council polls.

"As of now, matumal pa rin ang resulta ng registration," Julie told reporters.

"Sa Sulu kasi alam natin na lahat ng munisipyo at saka sa provincial candidate, unopposed lahat. So isa yon sa mga dahilan kung bakit nagpababa 'yung turnouts natin sa registration dahil yung local leaders and local politicians e wala naman silang kalaban sa elections," he added.

Meanwhile, Julie said there were no cases of harassment of election officers in the province, unlike in 2010 and in 2013.

"Unti-unti kasi nagma-mature ang mga politicians natin if we can show them yung political neutrality ng Comelec, wala tayong kinakamphian, nagka-conduct lang tayo ng normal election," he said.

While Sulu election officers had neither been threatened nor assaulted, Julie said his office was ready to deputize military and police units to maintain peace during the 2023 BSKE.

"Ang barangay elections, kahit saang province ka pumunta, 'yan ang pinakamainit na election... So 'yung mga experience natin sa election, walang wala ang national election sa barangay election," he said.

"Ang situation sa election is volatile. 'Di mo masabi na magulo, 'di mo masabi na peaceful...Mag-react tayo sa circumstances kung anong mangyari... We're prepared for the worst and hoping for the best," he added.

Part of their preparation for the 2023 BSKE is a command conference with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

Meanwhile, Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco was confident the BSKE in Sulu would be peaceful.

He mentioned that the security arrangements in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi was used as the Comelec's security template for the entire country during the 2022 polls and had been effective.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia, along with Commissioner Nelson Celis and several Comelec top officials, visited Tawi-Tawi and Sulu this weekend to check the status of voter registration in the remote provinces and to check on the welfare of their local Comelec officers. — DVM, GMA Integrated News