‘Lanao del Sur special polls generally peaceful, highly successful’

MANILA, Philippines — The special elections held in 14 barangays in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur on Tuesday were generally peaceful and ”highly successful,” according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“It was generally peaceful from the casting of votes to canvassing and the transmission of election results,” PNP Directorate for Operations head Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon said.

De Leon, deputy commander of the security task force for the elections, attributed the peaceful outcome of the polls to early planning and strategic deployment in collaboration with the Comelec, Armed Forces Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other government agencies.

He said around 600 policemen and 400 soldiers secured the town, preventing armed groups, suspected to be supporters of rival candidates for mayor, from sabotaging the elections.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said the votes from the 12 barangays were transmitted to the National Board of Canvassers at about 4:16 a.m. yesterday.

”We were successful yesterday. There was no untoward incident, no violence whatsoever. There was no report of vote counting machines malfunctioning,” he said.

Garcia said the poll body was able to proclaim the winners in the mayoral, vice mayoral and council seat elections.

The Comelec expressed its gratitude to the PNP, AFP, Department of Science and Technology and Department of Information and Communications Technology for their support in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the special elections.

The poll body declared failure of elections in 14 barangays in Lanao del Sur, including one each in Butig and Binidayan, due to violence, threats and intimidation.