Comelec, partners convene to discuss election matters

Islamic City of Marawi (26 January) -- The Provincial Commission on Elections (COMELEC) here together with the Department of Education (DepEd), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the City / Provincial Prosecutors conducted a joint meeting on January 24 to discuss election related issues and preparations for the coming 2010 national and local elections. 

The meeting was aimed to orient the participants on COMELEC Resolutions 8714, 8728, and 8729. 

Situational and poll automation updates were also presented by the PNP, AFP and Comelec. 

In addition, the AFP-PNP Joint Operational Guidelines in relation to the 2010 national and local elections was disseminated to people concerned. 

The operational guidelines are contained in the Joint Letter Directive (JLD) 01-2010 which provides for the policies, guidelines and procedures to be undertaken by the AFP and PNP in the conduct of law enforcement and security operations to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections in 2010. 

The JLD also sets forth the establishment of Joint Security Control Center (JSCC) that will implement a strategy to address all election-related security issues and concerns during the election period. 

In the province, the JSCC is chaired by Provincial Election Officer Atty. Nasib Yasin with Gen. Rey Ardo of the army's 103rd Brigade and Provincial Director PSSupt. Adap of PNP in Lanao del Sur as members. 

In a related development, the AFP reported that they apprehended 16 gun ban violators and confiscated 14 firearms from January 10 to 24.

The arrested violators included seven (7) PNP personnel, one (1) AFP personnel, one (1) MILF member, two (2) from security service agency, and five (5) civilians. 

The confiscated firearms included four (4) cal 45 pistol, four (4) 9mm pistol, two (2) 12 gauge shotgun, one (1) 38 revolver, and three (3) M16.

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PNP arrests 17 gun ban violators in Lanao Sur

Islamic City of Marawi (25 January) -- Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office (LSPPO) revealed that 17 persons were apprehended in the province for violating Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Resolution 8714. 

Police Senior Superintendent Paniares U. Adap said that of the 17 arrested, eight (8) are members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), two (2) from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), one (1) government official, three (3) security guards and three (3) civilians. 

The Provincial Director also disclosed that they have confiscated a total of six (6) high-powered and eleven (11) low powered firearms from January 10 to 24.

The LSPPO have further filed two (2) cases for gun ban violations, one (1) was also referred to the GRP-MILF and the remaining 14 is still under investigation, PSSupt. Adap added. 

The COMELEC issued Resolution 8714 imposing a total gun ban during the election period starting January 10 to June 9 of this year. 

The resolution states that only regular member of the PNP and the AFP as well as other law enforcement agencies are authorized to bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons during the election period provided that they are on duty and wearing the appropriate uniform.

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Comelec Lanao Sur to conduct public demo the use of PCOS machine

Islamic City of Marawi (25 January) -- The provincial office of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) here in Lanao del Sur is set to conduct a series of public demonstration on the use of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) to voters in the different municipalities of the province. 

According to COMELEC-ARMM Regional Director Rey Sumalipao, the PCOS is the solution in making every step of the electoral process transparent, orderly, credible and auditable. 

He said the public demonstration which is part of their voter's education campaign will give voters an idea on how the machine works. 

The use of the PCOS, he further said, will shorten the burden of manual counting and transmission of election results from precinct level to municipal and provincial board of canvassers.

Sumalipao also added that the training for teachers on the automated electoral process will be completed by March. 

On the other hand, Lanao del Sur Election Officer Atty. Nasib Yasin encourages the public to participate in the demonstration. 

With the use of the PCOS machines, it is expected that cheating and other election frauds will be minimized and winning candidates will be proclaimed in due time which can minimize the tensions between candidates and their respective supporters, the election officer added.

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