The police will remain on alert in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to stave off violence during the canvassing of votes in Lanao del Sur, where special elections were held last Saturday.
ARMM Police Region director Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao said that although the special elections were generally peaceful, there were scattered cases of violence that forced the cancellation of elections in one of the 13 towns where special polls were conducted.
Violent incidents also reportedly forced the Commission on Elections to declare a failure of elections in several towns.
Goltiao said no elections were conducted in the town of Butig because poll officials and even voters stayed away from the voting precincts reportedly due to the tense security situation.
It’s in Butig where Camp Busrah, the second biggest camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is located. The MILF said it’s not interfering in the elections.
Goltiao said elections in Butig town have been rescheduled for today.
He said that with ARMM policemen on high alert, election personnel, particularly Board of Election Inspectors, are assured of better security during the canvassing of votes.
Initial reports said elections in some barangays in Taraka and Madalum towns were suspended due to sporadic gunfire and mortar attacks. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The ARMM police chief earlier said the designation of policemen as BEIs – although approved by Comelec – had sown confusion and misunderstanding among some candidates prompting poll officials to reschedule the elections in some areas.
“Policemen, who will serve as BEIs will be allowed to carry short firearms,” Goltiao said. “Voters in the area prefer that policemen would serve as BEIs because they feel safer because they could not be intimidated.”
Aside from Lanao del Sur towns, special elections will also be held in Indanan town in Sulu province and in some barangays in Basilan and Tawi-Tawi provinces. – Cecille Suerte Felipe