COMELEC Chairman George Garcia and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, show up during the filing of COC in EMBO Barangay.(Photo Tony Gildo)
Aspiring candidates for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from the 10 Enlisted Men’s Barrios (EMBO) trooped to Taguig on Monday, August 28, for the filing of their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs).
According to Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia, the high turnout of candidates at the Taguig Convention Center just on the first day of filing of CoCs means many recognize the poll body’s declaration that the City of Taguig indeed has jurisdiction over Cembo, Comembo, Pembo, East Rembo, West Rembo, South Cembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside and Rizal.
“Nagpapasalamat kami, natutuwa kami dahil nilipat namin ang filing of certificate of candidacy dito sa Taguig at simula kaninang napaka-aga pa lang, madami nang nag-file ng certificates of candidacy mula sa 10 EMBO barangays at hanggang ngayon mayroong nandyan nakapila, at may intensyon na mag-file dito sa Taguig.
“Sumadya talaga sila para lang mag-file ng kanilang certificates of candidacy. Isa lang ang ibig sabihin niyan, na kinikilala nila yung deklarasyon ng Comelec na ang kinikilala namin na may jurisdiction sa 10 barangays ay ang siyudad ng Taguig,” he said.
The COC filing went seamlessly, with candidates following the same process in placed even before the 10 EMBO barangays were transferred to the Taguig’s jurisdiction.
Taguig City Election Officer Edgar Aringay said that while there will be changes in the precinct numbers for these barangays, the voting centers and classrooms where the EMBO barangays used to vote are still the same. He said the precinct numbers for each barangay could also be checked easily at Comelec-Taguig.
A voter education campaign to inform those affected by the minimal changes is also ongoing. “The change happened because, the voters who were in Makati have the same precinct number as our precincts here in Taguig.
So, if it’s a single database or record, we need to change the precinct numbers to avoid the similarity with the precinct numbers here in Taguig,” Aringay explained.
Many residents of the EMBO barangays gathered outside the Taguig Convention Center, complete with color-coded shirts and balloons to express their support for their preferred candidates.
The atmosphere in the area was festive throughout the filing hours, with aspiring candidates greeting their supporters as they went inside the convention center. Candidates also happily took pictures of themselves after submission of their COCs. The filing of CoCs for the 2023 BSKE polls will run until September 2.
