Cops to conduct special barangay polls in Pikit

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines – Voters  expressed confidence in the competency of  the policemen assigned to administer the November 8 special barangay elections in 12 areas in Pikit town.

The Commission on Elections has assigned 153 policemen to serve as election tellers in the 12 barangays which failed to hold elections last October 28 due to security reasons and confusion over the designated venues for the polling activities.

Lawyer Duque Kadatuan, North Cotabato’s provincial election supervisor, has relieved Pikit’s election officer, Joel Celis, for his failure to address the problems that led to the postponement of the polls in the affected areas.

Local officials said barangay folks are confident the Nov. 8 elections in the 12 areas will push through as scheduled.

Kadatuan said the policemen who will serve as election tellers will undergo orientation on how to administer the elections.

Kadatuan said the policemen will come from outside of Pikit, which is in the first district of the province, to ensure their neutrality.

Celis and his subordinates are  being investigated  for attempting to cluster last October 28 at the town proper of Pikit all the voting sites at the 12 barangays despite opposition by voters and local officials.