Violence, stolen ballots in Lanao del Sur villages spur Comelec reset
CITING incidents of election violence and stolen ballots, the Commission on Elections declared failure of elections in 14 barangays in Lanao Del Sur.
The declaration was based on the recommendation of Comelec Deputy Executive Director for Operations Teopisto E. Elnas Jr. which was then adopted by the members of the Comelec en banc on Tuesday via Minute Resolution No. 22-0648.
In his report, Elnas said some of the ballots in Butig were stolen and resulted in one policeman being stabbed, while protecting the vote counting machine (VCM) in the municipality.
In the Municipality of Binidayan, a VCM and some ballots were damaged due to election violence.
There were also reports of election violence in Tubaran.
“Considering that the elections for local positions in the concerned municipalities may still be a ected by the number of registered voters in the above precincts, and so as not to disenfranchise the voters in the foregoing locations, the Commission Resolved as it hereby Resolves to adopt, with modi cation, the recommendation of Deputy Executive Director for Operations Teopisto E. Elnas Jr.,” the Comelec en banc said.
Aside from the declaration of failure of election, Elnas proposed the conduct of a special election in the a ected barangays scattered in the three municipalities.
The affected barangays are Ragayan, Pindolonan, Tangcal, Datumanong, Guiarong, Baguiangun, Wago, Malaganding, Gadongan, Riantaran, Pagalamatan, Mindamunag, Paigoday, Pimbataan, and Metadicop.
A total of 8,295 voters will be a ected by the special elections, which is initially scheduled for May 15, 2022.
The Comelec en banc also ordered the printing of the ballots to be used in Butig and Binidayan.
Likewise, it also initiated the preparation of the VCMS and paraphernalia and supplies to be used in the special elections.
To ensure the security in the said special polls, the Comelec en banc designated members of the Philippine National Police to the Special of Board of Election Inspectors.