Voters' registration in Lanao Sur normal - COMELEC

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 10 (PIA) -- The first day of the general voters' registration in the province was normal except for isolated problems on clustering and locations of the registration centers, according to Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Armando Velasco in a press conference held on Monday, here.

He said a number of the parties were not satisfied with the present location of the registration centers.

The reasons are mostly attributable to "rido" (family feud) and political rivalry, Velasco said.

According to Velasco, some claims that before they could go to designated registration centers they had to pass through the territory of political rivals while others could not go to the centers because of family feud.

The commissioner, however, assured that they are trying their best to lessen the questions on clustering, emphasizing that aside from the convenience of registrants, they also consider its security aspect.

As per Comelec report, there are 253 registration centers and 309 voters registration machines in the province.

The other problem encountered were glitches in the voters registration machines in some areas but these had already been addressed by the Comelec.

Velasco also said that the four regional directors of the Comelec assigned here moved around the province conducting ocular inspections and observing the conduct of the registration.

Col. Daniel Lucero, commanding officer of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, said almost 99 percent of the security forces are now deployed except for a contingent going to Upper Tagoloan as they are still waiting for the availability of the chopper that will ferry them from Cagayan de Oro City to the area.

"There is also a high possibility of violence in the municipalities of Tugaya and Kapai, however, appropriate actions have been taken to prevent or avert such incidences there and that CCTV cameras were installed in the areas," he further said.  

Lucero added that forces designated to secure Butig arrived in the municipality at around 8:30 a.m. and no violent incident was reported in the area.

No other registration-related violence was also reported in other areas as of press time.