Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia- Photo courtesy of Joey Razon/ Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Erwin Garcia on Saturday urged Filipinos to vote wisely in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Nov. 2, warning that poor choices in leadership ultimately reflect on the electorate.
Speaking at a voters’ education forum at Biliran Province State University in Naval, Biliran, Garcia stressed that citizens themselves share responsibility for the country’s problems when they fail to elect capable leaders.
“Only voters, or those citizens who do not choose the right leaders, can be blamed for the country’s mess. We should always remember this,” Garcia said.
He reminded voters—particularly the youth—that barangay and youth council officials serve as the first responders to the needs of residents, especially in far-flung communities.
Garcia cautioned against choosing candidates based solely on exposure in social media or traditional platforms, urging voters to rely on conscience and careful evaluation instead.
“We should not elect leaders based on social media, television, radio and newspapers. We should use our heart and our conscience in voting, especially for the first-time voters,” he said.
Comelec data showed growing youth participation in elections, with more than 2.7 million new voters registered so far, about 65 percent of whom are young Filipinos, as the country prepares to elect officials in over 42,000 barangays nationwide.
