Aspiring candidates for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) positions in the Enlisted Men’s Barrios (EMBO) were hit with a bombshell on the first day of filing their certificates of candidacy (COCs). Their precinct numbers had changed overnight, leaving candidates in a state of bewilderment.

This following a series of word wars and snide remarks between two local executives, Makati’s Mayor Abby Binay and Taguig’s Mayor Lani Cayetano. The feud took center stage, particularly during the distribution of school supplies to thousands of EMBO students, which prompted parents and netizens to scrutinize and compare the quality of school materials provided by the two neighboring jurisdictions.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) shed light on this convoluted situation, revealing that the precinct number shuffle was a direct consequence of Taguig absorbing control over 10 EMBO barangays, which had previously been under Makati’s dominion.

The root of this electoral conundrum lies in the transfer of EMBO residents’ records from Makati to Taguig. As the two datasets merged, an overlap in precinct numbers between the two cities became glaringly apparent. Such a clash in the realm of numbers threatened to plunge the election process into chaos, risking confusion and complications in maintaining a coherent and unified database or record system.

Taguig City Election Officer Edgar Aringay shed light on the matter, stating, “The change happened because, you know, the voters who were in Makati have the same precinct number as our precincts here in Taguig. So, if it’s a single database or record, we need to change the precinct numbers to avoid the similarity with the precinct numbers here in Taguig.”

As aspiring EMBO candidates navigate this sudden twist in their electoral journey, the feud between Mayor Abby Binay and Mayor Lani Cayetano continues to simmer, adding yet another layer of intrigue to an already complex political saga. Only time will tell how this precinct pandemonium will impact the upcoming elections and the candidates vying for the EMBO’s coveted positions.