Comelec: Plebiscite to divide PH’s biggest barangay set Aug. 31

MANILA: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to conduct a plebiscite in Caloocan City next month for the division of Barangay Bagong Silang, the country's most populous barangay in the country. In Comelec Resolution 11007 made public on Monday, the Commission en banc said the plebiscite would ratify the law, Republic Act (RA) 11993 that divides Barangay 176 into Barangays 176-A, 176-B, 176-C, 176-D, 176-E, and 176-F. "The commission resolves to set the date of the plebiscite on Aug. 31, 2024," it said. The resolution added that the plebiscite period will start on Aug. 1 and end on Sept. 7. During this period, it is prohibited to bear or carry firearms or other deadly weapons in public places; transfer or detail officers and employees in the civil service; organize or maintain reaction forces, strike forces, or similar forces; suspend local elective officials; and coerce, threaten, intimidate, or terrorize any election official or employee in the performance of his functions or duties. From Aug. 1 to 29, the Information and Campaign Period, the poll body prohibits the removal, destruction, or tampering of lawful plebiscite propaganda; the use of armored land and water transport or aircraft; the raising of funds through dances, lotteries, cockfights, etc.; vote-buying and vote-selling; and wagers on the result of the plebiscite. On the eve of the plebiscite, it is prohibited to campaign; sell, buy, or serve intoxicating liquor; and give or accept free transportation, foods, drinks, and things of value. On plebiscite day, the casting of votes will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The counting and canvassing of votes, meanwhile, will begin at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. As of 2020, the population in Barangay 176 is at 261,729. Source: Philippines News Agency