Heavy rains delay transport of ballots in C. Mindanao

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao – Heavy downpours have hampered the transport of election results from selected areas here in Central Mindanao to designated tabulation sites in police and military camps.

But officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said they are confident they can accelerate the counting of votes.

Lawyer Clarita Callar, Comelec Regional Director for Central Mindanao, said she is certain that tabulation and subsequent canvassing of election returns in Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat would soon be accomplished with the help of different agencies deputized to assist the poll body in administering the elections.

Election results from Maguindanao’s neighboring Talitay and Kabuntalan municipalities are to be tallied at the gymnasium of the 6th Infantry Division upon the request of local residents.

The designated sites for tabulation are the command headquarters of the Army’s 6th ID in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, the Provincial Capitol here and in Camp Pendatun, and the regional headquarters of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police in Parang, Maguindanao.

Canvassing of election returns from the adjoining Pagalungan and Datu Montawal towns, both in the second district of Maguindanao, will be done at the headquarters of the Army’s 602nd Brigade in Carmen, North Cotabato.