Caritas Philippines president praises a ‘mature’ electorate for less violence in this year’s local elections

Fewer people died in election-related violence in yesterday's vote. Bishop José Colin Bogaforo commended the way the democratic process was conducted, urging newly elected officials to work for the people they represent. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr posted a video message congratulating the winners.

Manila (AsiaNews) – After two postponements of one year each, local elections (Barangay[*] and Youth Councils) were held yesterday in the Philippines.

Some 92 million voters were eligible to cast their ballot at some 200,000 polling stations across the country to choose among 1.41 million candidates running for 672,432 offices.

Usually fiercely contested, the elections were marred by violence in the past between competing groups and terrorists.

It is no coincidence that this time almost 190,000 members of the security forces were deployed, including military and paramilitary units, especially in the more volatile southern regions of the country.

Since the campaign began in August, 19 people have died and another 19 were wounded in election-related acts of intimidation and violence, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) reported, a significant drop compared to previous elections.

On election day, yesterday, six people died in 39 violent incidents, five in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and one in Northern Mindanao, police reported.

For Bishop José Colin Bogaforo, president of Caritas Philippines, the vote shows a high degree of maturity on the part of the electorate. In a statement, the prelate thanked the Catholics who made an important contribution to the democratic process.

"We thank you for going beyond your civic duty and for your commitment to ensuring that our elections were free, fair, and peaceful," he said in the statement addressed to the thousands of volunteers, mostly Catholics and members of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, who helped ensure that the elections were held in a fair and peaceful manner.

Since 2010, these volunteers play a semi-official role, monitoring the results of the ballot boxes during the independent counting of votes.

Bishop Bogaforo also addressed the newly elected, asking them to “serve the best interests of your barangays and to work tirelessly to improve the lives of your constituents” in accordance with the duties and responsibilities laid out in the 1991 Code for Local Government.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, congratulated the winners and in a video message urged them to fulfil their role serving the public.

"Now you have a new chance to serve Filipinos and our country with all your heart and strength,” the president said. "Let us always be honest and put the needs of the people first, because that's why we want to serve the country."

(Santosh Digal contributed to this article)

[*] The barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, akin to a village, district or ward in rural areas, or an inner-city neighbourhood, suburb, suburban neighborhood, and a borough in large urban areas.

• philippines
• local elections
• barangay
• youth councils
• caritas
• catholic church
• volunteers
• bishop josé colin bogaforo
• president ferdinant marcos jr