The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued an advisory warning to the public against individuals and groups making rounds in the city and accepting nominations of those interested to be OIC barangay captain in various villages.

Tagbilaran City DILG Director Mar Roxas said that guidelines for the replacement of barangay officials whose terms end next month have not been released yet.

He confirmed that there have been instances where individuals or groups list the names of nominees and ask for fees in the city and several towns.

The local DILG official urged the public to report such cases.

Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno had also previously warned the public against such movements as the government will be appointing OIC barangay officials instead of electing them.

The alternate method of choosing barangay officials was devised following the postponement of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and barangay elections to next year.

President Rodrigo Duterte had also supported the move to reschedule the polls as he noted that drug lords could buy influence by supporting candidates’ campaigns.

Based on reports, there are at least three groups operating in Bohol which swindle barangay post aspirants.

Roxas clarified that the terms of incumbent barangay officials will expire on November 30 while the SK and village elections has been moved from October 30 this year to the same month in 2017. (Allen Doydora) 

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