By Jennifer P. Rendon

With just a single vote, at least 30 candidates for punong barangay or village chief in Iloilo City could seal their victory.

Atty. Reinier Layson, Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Iloilo provincial supervisor, said 20 of the unopposed bets are seeking re-election while 10 are deemed newcomers.

“We just need to conduct the election and these unopposed candidates only need one vote to be proclaimed as winners,” Layson said.

The number could still go up since candidates have until midday of Oct. 30 to withdraw their candidacy.

On top of that, Layson said there are other circumstances that would also be considered like the untimely demise of the candidate.

It was gathered that there are also Sangguniang Kabataan candidates who also run unopposed but Comelec-Iloilo has to get their numbers.

Meanwhile, Comelec-Iloilo is also checking reports of areas that have no candidates running for the SK position.

Information pointed to Barangay Omambong, Leon which had no candidates running for an SK elective post.

Omambong has two cluster precincts and five polling precincts with 914 regular voters. Of the said number, 288 are within the 15-30 age bracket.

Sources claimed the said development could have been an offshoot of criticisms to outgoing SK officers over their lack of projects. But the latter claimed they had initiated sports programs and youth-related activities.