Special elections reset to June 3

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday issued a resolution rescheduling the conduct of special elections in seven towns in Lanao del Sur and certain polling precincts in Basilan and Sarangani from May 29 to June 3.

Affected towns in Lanao del Sur are Sultan Domalondon, Lumba Bayabao, Masiu, Tubaran, Lumbaca-Unayan, Marogong and Bayang, involving almost 72,000 voters in 190 clustered polling precincts.

In Sarangani, the affected precincts are found in Barangay Poblacion in Gian town, while the concerned precincts in Basilan are in Danapa, Kailih, Bato-bato, Apil-apil and Bucalao, all in Albarka town.

The Comelec declared a failure of elections in these places due to various reasons, including poll-related violence and the failure of teachers serving as Board of Election Inspectors to report for work.

In Resolution 8946, the Comelec said the postponement was made in view of the possible declaration of failure of elections in some precincts in eight other municipalities in the province.

The precincts are found in Buadiposo, Buntong, Kapai, Marantao, Calanogas, Ganassi, Lumbatan, Pagawayan and Tugaya, involving a total of some 12,000 voters.   

The poll body still has to hear petitions and reports on failure of elections in these places.

The Comelec said the special polls need to be reset, as the results of balloting in the affected Lanao del Sur municipalities will affect the elections not only in the provincial level – congressman, vice governor and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan – but also in the municipal level.

The Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente), one of the two nationwide citizens’ arms accredited by the Comelec, will send a 30-man delegation to observe the conduct of the special elections, Lente co-convenor Carlos Medina said.

In a statement, Medina said the delegation will be composed of lawyers and paralegal workers, who will deployed in the affected Lanao del Sur towns.

He said Lente is expecting that the presence of its volunteers and other watch groups and political parties could deter the outbreak of violence and ensure clean, orderly, peaceful and free elections in what has been traditionally regarded as the hotbed of electoral violence in the country.

Lente’s mandate as an accredited citizens’ body includes providing voters’ education, performing election monitoring activities, and giving legal assistance to other watch groups, aggrieved citizens, and other groups.

Medina said the delegation intends to monitor the conduct of the special elections to assure accountability among voters and the various political parties and groups, which are contending for national and local posts.

As part of its mandate, Medina said Lente will file appropriate charges in court against persons or political groups, which will disrupt the special elections or resort to any illegal activities that will violate election laws.