Comelec holds special polls

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday is holding special polls in several areas where the poll body declared a failure of elections due to logistical and security concerns.

Special elections will be held in 55 clustered precincts with around 19,000 affected voters in Cebu, Sarangani, Marinduque, Antique, Samar, Lanao del Sur and Sulu.

Ongoing special elections for clustered precinct 33 at Gabi Elementary School in Cordova town, Cebu #cebuvote2016 pic.twitter.com/Z1IgTt6MjT

— The Freeman (@TheFreemanNews) May 14, 2016

Some incidents that forced Comelec not to hold elections include a shooting incident in Lope de Vega, Northern, Samar which left a soldier killed.

In some areas in Cordova, Cebu and Antique, elections did not take place due to lack of printed ballots.

Several precincts in Maitum, Sarangani and Sta. Cruz, Marinduque, meanwhile, postponed the voting since ballots were swapped.

In Matuguinao, Western Samar, armed men stormed the voting center in Barangay Nagpapacao, destroying and burning the vote-counting machines (VCMs) and other election paraphernalia.

A fire incident was reported at Dilausan Primary School in Tamparan, Lanao del Sur which prompted officers not to proceed with the election.

Three out of six voting centers in Binidayan, Lanao del Sur were demanded to be transferred by contending parties without Comelec authorization. Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) were also reportedly harassed and intimidated prior to the opening of VCMs and ballots.

BEIs also failed to appear on election day in some areas in Sulu.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said they will wait for the results of Saturday’s special elections before proclaiming the 12 winning senators and party-list groups, which is likely to be held on Tuesday or Thursday next week.