Twenty-one candidates for village chief in Iloilo City are running unopposed in the October 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

According to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC-Iloilo City), seven of the unopposed punong barangay bets are in Jaro, 5 in City Proper, 3 in Molo, 2 each in Mandurriao, and La Paz and 1 each in Arevalo and Lapuz.

Those who have no opponents in Jaro are Alexa John Jover of Barangay San Pedro, Julie Baronda of Barangay Javellana Extension, Jimmy Macero of Barangay Fatima, Nestor Ledesma of Barangay M.V. Hechanova, Albert Santiago of Barangay Lopez, Ian Jehn Parrenas of Barangay CC-EL98 and Gina Elauria of Barangay Taytay Zone II.

In City Proper, Ma. Irene Ong of Barangay Pres. Roxas, Melchor Conte of Barangay Roxas Village, Sergio Espinosa of Barangay Legaspi dela Rama, Edgar Alicante of Barangay Inday and Antonio Antenor of Barangay Sampaguita are sure winners.

In Molo, Reyland Hervias of Barangay Compania, Leo Aristoza of Barangay North Fundidor and Aris Servando have no challengers.

In Arevalo and Lapuz, Nestor Espinosa of Barangay Sto. Nino Sur and Marites Nava of Barangay Libertad, respectively, are seeking the highest village position.

Other unopposed aspirants are Joel Alvarado of Barangay Bakhaw and Napoleon Militar of Barangay Bugang Taft North in Mandurriao, and Rey Bion of Barangay Luna and Ruby Ann Geanga in La Paz.

The seven-day filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for next month’s BSKE ended on Saturday, Sept. 2.

COMELEC-Iloilo City election officer Jonathan Sayno said a total of 6,760 candidates for punong barangay, barangay kagawad and SK chairperson and kagawad filed their COCs.IMT