The 661 Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen throughout Negros Occidental will gather today to vote for their representatives to the 13 city and 19 town councils of the province, Local Governments Provincial Officer Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag said yesterday.

DILG provisions prohibit interference of local officials in the SK polls, she said.

The Board of Election Supervisors will be chaired by the DILG field officer, with the COMELEC registrar and Sanggunian secretary as members in the various towns and cities where the polls are held, she said.

Nominations will be made from the floor and voting will be done by secret ballot, she said.

The SK chairmen of the various barangays of each town and city will elect from among themselves a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, auditor, public relations officer and sergeant at arms.

The winning SK presidents of the 32 towns and cities of Negros Occidental will then gather on Dec. 17 to elect their provincial head, while the election for the national president of the SK will be on Jan. 17.

Before the election an Integrated SK Organizational Leadership and re Orientation Program – Basic Orientation Seminar will be held to orient SK chairmen of their duties and responsibilities, she said.

Madayag said, so far, she has not received any formal complaint against officials who took SK chairmen on trips to Boracay and Manila to try to influence their votes on the choice of SK federation officials.

Complaints had earlier been aired about SK officials in Escalante and Calatrava being brought on trips out of Negros to try to influence their votes.

Madayag said interested parties should file formal complaints so they can be acted on.

She said if officials are involved, complaints can be filed before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Civil Service Commission or the Ombudsman, not with the DILG.

Unless a case is filed with the Office of the President and the DILG is directed to investigate the matter, she said.

Penalties for those found guilty could be dismissal or suspension, she said.

The Civil Service Commission yesterday also said complaints against government employees interfering in the SK polls can also be filed before its office.

Meanwhile, the election of presidents of the Liga ng Mga Barangay in towns and cities is set Dec 11, and on the provincial level on Dec. 29, Madayag said.*CPG

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