Lawyers, police trainees to serve on special polls in Lanao del Sur

Islamic City of Marawi (31 May)—The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will deploy its lawyers and tap police trainees to serve in the special elections in Lanao del Sur on June 3.

In its recently-promulgated resolution, the COMELEC ordered the replacement of Elections Officers (EOs) in the seven municipalities of the province where there were failure of elections.

Resolution 8965 provides that Special Action Officers (SAO) consisting of selected officers, preferably lawyers of the commission, shall be assigned as EOs and Chairmen of the Board of Canvassers.

The SAO shall be responsible for the safekeeping and distribution of the ballots and other election paraphernalia which must be done a day before or early morning of Thursday, June 3 in a place designated by it in coordination with the Municipal Joint Security Control Centers, the resolution stated.

It shall also ensure that all sealed and tested precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines are delivered in the polling centers not later than Wednesday, June 2 and turned over to the concerned special board of election inspectors (SBEIs), the resolution further stated.

At the same time, the COMELEC has also deputized Philippine National Police trainees from Regions 10, 11 and 12 to be on stand-by in case there would be shortage of teachers who will serve as members of the SBEIs.

These trainees shall undergo training on the operation of the PCOS machines and the procedures for voting and counting.

The training shall be conducted on site, where they are currently being trained not later than May 31, the COMELEC said.

In a related development, troops from the 601^st Infantry Brigade based in Iligan City were deployed to the province to ensure the orderly and peaceful conduct of the special elections.

Colonel Leo Cresente Ferrer, chief of the 601^st Infantry Brigade, said the deployment was made to augment the forces of the 103^rd Infantry Brigade in securing the coming special elections in the province.

0

Special elections in Lanao Sur reset to June 3

Islamic City of Marawi (31 May) -- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) issued a resolution moving the conduct of special elections in Lanao del Sur from May 29 to June 3. 

The provincial board of canvassers chaired by acting Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Josllyn P. Demesa issued a memorandum seeking to reschedule the special elections because eight (8) municipalities were added to the initial seven municipalities that declared a total failure of elections. 

The special elections in the seven towns involving more than seventy thousand (70,000) voters were initially set on May 29. 

These towns are Lumba Bayabao and Masiu in the first district, Sultan Domalondong, Tubaran, Lumbaca Unayan, Marogong and Bayang in the second district. 

Resolution 8946 stated that 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 results of elections in the said municipalities will affect not only in the provincial level but also in the municipal level. 

Other reasons cited in the memorandum include reported missing ballots in certain barangays in Tugaya and Lumbatan, unwilling and disqualified Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines were already pulled out by Smartmatic, the need for newly-constituted BEIs to undergo training and certification, and the need to review the manning of COMELEC personnel at the municipal level. 

The said postponement will also give time for the preparations on the logistics, manpower and security requirements on the conduct of special elections

1

No final schedule yet for the special elections in Lanao Sur—Comelec

Islamic City of Marawi (17 May) – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) here in Lanao del Sur disclosed that no final date was set for the conduct of special elections in some part of the province.

Acting Provincial Election Supervisor Atty Josllyn Demesa said that they are waiting for the instructions from their head office on the date of special elections in the province.

As of yesterday, we have canvassed 70% and hopefully we will be done canvassing today the returns from the municipalities which functioned, Demesa said.

After this, we will probably suspend and wait until there will be elections in the municipalities where there was failure of elections, she added.

Earlier, the Provincial COMELEC reported that there was failure of elections in seven (7) towns and twenty three (23) barangays in Lanao del Sur.

These towns are Lumba-Bayabao and Masiu in the first district as well as Tubaran, Bayang, Sultan Dumalondong, Marogong, and Lumbaca-Unayan in the second district.

On the other hand, 10 barangays in Kapai, five (5) in Calanogas, two (2) in Tugaya, four (4) in Ganassi, and two (2) in Marantao did not functioned.

The acting PES said that failure in one (1) town was due to malfunction of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machine and compact flash cards (CFCs) while the other six (6) towns have no election officers (EOs) and board of election inspectors (BEIs).

Demesa further revealed that the total registered voters for the seven towns is 68,687 while the 23 barangays has 9,303 registered voters.

0

Comelec proclaims poll winners in Lanao del Sur

Islamic City of Marawi (17 May) – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) here proclaimed more winners in Lanao del Sur amid slow canvassing in the province.

Re-electionists Marawi City Mayor Fahad U. Salic and Vice-Mayor Noryasmin A. Calandada dominated the elections in the city level.

Salic won with 34,234 votes or 66.65% of the total votes compared with his major rival Abbas Basman with 16,918 votes or 32.94%. Calandada, on the other hand, beat four vice-mayoralty candidates with 55.55% of the total votes or 27,186 votes.

Both winners were from the Nacionalista Party.

Moreover, the Provincial Board of Canvassers chaired by Atty. Josllyn Demesa also revealed that they have proclaimed winners in 26 municipalities of Lanao del Sur.

These towns are Poona-Bayabao, Madalum, Madamba, Ganassi, Pualas, Lumbatan, Lumabayanague, Balabagan, Tamparan, Taraka, Marantao, Mulondo, Wao, Bumbaran, Bacolod-Kalawi, Butig, Malabang, Ditsaan-Ramain, Piagapo, Kapatagan, Bubong, Picong, Sultan Gumander, Buadipuso-Buntong,Tagoloan and Pagayawan.

0

Haribon troops, civil society groups start poll mess clean-up

Islamic City of Marawi (17 May) – Soldiers under the army’s 103^rd (Haribon) Brigade and members of civil society groups here started cleaning-up the mess left behind by candidates during the first-ever automated national and local elections.

With the theme, “Kawal at Mamamayan, Nagkaisa Para sa Kalinisan,” the clean-up drive is initiated by the 103^rd brigade and the civil society groups to bring back orderliness in the different parts of the city and the province.

BGen. Rey C. Ardo, 103^rd Brigade Commanding Officer, said he directed his troops to remove election posters, streamers, stickers and other campaign paraphernalia left posted along the major roads in their area of responsibility.

The operation also includes tidying-up all the poster-plastered walls, trees, and electric posts.

He added that the cleanliness drive is a continuing operation until the election is over.

0

Board of Canvassers tumanggging gumawa ng partial proclamation sa Marawi City

Islamic City of Marawi (12 May) -- Tumanggi ang Marawi City Board of Canvassers na gumawa ng "partial proclamation" dahil hindi pa kumpleto ang resulta ng halalan sa lungsod. 

Ayon kay City Election Officer Atty. Jubil Surmeida natanggap na nila ang resulta mula sa 114 o 97% ng kabuoang 116 clustered precincts. 

Dahil dito, hiniling ng mga abogado ng mga lokal na kandidato na gumawa ng partial proclamation ang Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

Sinabi ni Surmeida na hindi niya ito magagawa dahil hindi ito magiging kapanipaniwala. 

Ipinaliwanag ni Surmeida na nagkaroon ng problema sa dalawang compact flash (CF) cards ng dalawang clustered precincts na naging dahilan ng paghinto ng bilangan ng balota. 

Hinihintay pa nila ang bagong CF cards na ina-asahang darating dito sa lungsod ngayong hapon dahil ito ay manggagaling pa sa Manila. 

Dahil dito minabuti ni Surmeida na ilagay ang mga balota ng nabanggit na dalawang clustered precincts sa Bagumbayan Hall sa City Hall kung saan nagko-convene ang City Board of Canvassers. 

Binabantayan ngayon ito ng mga poll watchers ng mga partidong magka-katunggali at gwardiyado rin ng mga pulis at sundalo. 

Samantala, sabik na ang mga tao na maiproklama na ng COMELEC ang mga nagsipagwaging lokal na kandidato. 

Mayroong tatlong kandidato sa pagka-alkalde dito sa lungsod, kabilang na ang incumbent na si Fahad "Pre" Salic. 

Dahil sa pangyayaring ito, isa ang Marawi City sa hindi pa nakapagtransmit ng resulta doon sa provincial board of canvassers.

0

Marawi encounters election-related incidence

Islamic City of Marawi (10 May) -- Three improvised bomb explosives simultaneously exploded about 15 meters away from the Mindanao State University (MSU) gym, this morning. 

No casualty, however, were reported.

The explosion is believed to be a scenario wherein voters at this precinct are opposed to the clustering. 

Similar incidence occurred on or about 10:40 am, today, where a group of undetermined armed men fired three (3) rounds of M203 grenade launcher near the Marawi City Pilot School at Amai Pakapak, Marawi City. 

Nobody was hurt during the incident. 

Purpose of said explosion is believed to disrupt the ongoing elections.

0

Tension grips Lanao del Sur

Lanao del Sur (10 May) -- Residents of barangay Parao in Kapai, Lanao del Sur were fired upon by undetermined number of fully armed men believed to be members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). 

The incident resulted to one (1) civilian wounded.

A shooting incident also transpired between barangays Parao and Pindulunan both of Kapai at 8:15am. 

Victim who died on said incident was identified as Mamac Sangco, brother of Kapai, Association of Barangay Council (ABC) President. 

Suspect was identified as MILF commander Kubaib Gawraki. 

Meanwhile, on or about 10:30 am, today, tension gripped barangay Poblacion, Tugaya town, in the province of Lanao del Sur, when sporadic gunfires were heard from both parties of the Mangawan and Alimatar families due to rido (family feud) and intense political rivalry, which resulted in the killing of two (2) persons from Mangawan family and a ceratin Saynoddin Abdullah.

0

JSCC intensifies campaign vs flying voters in Lanao Sur

Islamic City of Marawi (29 April) -- In response to the reports that the voters' list in Lanao del Sur is padded with flying voters and multiple registrants, the Joint Security Control Center and Task Force Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections (HOPE) in the province launched a campaign against flying voters to ensure honest and orderly elections.

According the BGen. Rey C. Ardo, commanding officer of the 103rd brigade, the campaign aims to discourage flying voters from exercising their malicious deeds of corrupting the election process in the province.

Ardo said they prepared campaign materials such as flyers which will be distributed to the public and tarpaulins which will be placed in strategic locations for the voters to take notice.

"The tarpaulins will be placed in various checkpoints and along roads especially those roads going to the province," he further said.

"These tarpaulins will be seen by voters as they enter the province from Iligan City and from Cotabato City," Ardo added.

During the launching, campaign advertisement for television and radio stations was also distributed to broadcast media to assist the JSCC in the advocacy.

A makeshift jail which serves as a temporary jail for flying voters was likewise shown to the media.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Election Director Atty, Remlane M. Tambuang stressed that the punishment for apprehended flying voters includes imprisonment for a minimum of one (1) year to six (6) years, disqualification from holding public office and suspension of the right to vote.

Ardo meanwhile urged NGOs and other stakeholders to help in the advocacy to reduce the possibility of fraud in the conduct of elections in this part of the country.

He also appealed to the public to report suspected flying voters to the JSCC.

We are deputized by the Commission on Elections for security purposes and we will continue to perform such role to ensure the honest, orderly and peaceful conduct of elections here in Lanao del Sur, Ardo stressed

0

Haribon brigade soldiers cast votes for local absentee voting

Islamic City of Marawi (29 April) -- The soldiers under the 103rd Infantry (HARIBON) Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army, started casting their votes yesterday, April 28, for the local absentee voting in connection with the 2010 automated elections.

All units under the brigade which include the 51st Infantry Battalion, the 64th Infantry Battalion and the 65th Infantry Battalion joined the local absentee voting yesterday although they are expected to finish on April 30 due to the wide dispersion of their troops.

Under COMELEC Resolution 8754, local absentee voting is a system of voting whereby government officials and employees, including members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, who are duly registered voters are allowed to vote in places where they are not registered voters but where they are temporarily assigned to perform election duties on election day.

Under the local absentee voting, only the positions of President, Vice-President, Senators and Party-List Representatives shall be voted for.

"This is the most peaceful election I have witnessed in Lanao del Sur," quipped Bridage Commander BGen. Rey C. Ardo.

Past elections in the province have been traditionally intense sometimes resulting to election violence. As such, the Haribon brigade has been preparing hard to ensure that there will be honest, orderly and peaceful elections (HOPE) in the province.

Earlier this year, the brigade together with the members of Lanao del Sur Joint Security Control Center (JSCC) initiated the signing of covenant among the local candidates to elicit their commitment towards a clean and peaceful elections.

Several members of civil society organizations in the province have also banded together and coordinated with the brigade to form the Task Force HOPE.

Task Force HOPE undertakes a voter's education campaign on the automated system of elections.

Moreover, the JSCC have been strictly implementing the gun ban which prohibits the carrying of firearms.

COMELEC checkpoints have been set along the national highway of the province to ensure that nobody, especially electoral candidates, are bringing firearms. Military and police escorts are not allowed to carry firearms without the necessary exemption from the COMELEC.

As a result of these activities, the brigade has been able to thoroughly plan on how to make the elections relatively safer for the voters.

Since the soldiers have already cast their votes, they could be deployed earlier to secure the voters, the polling places, the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and other election paraphernalia, Ardo added

0