Isabela town holds special elections

MANILA, Philippines — Residents in a town in Isabela, where unidentified men burned a vote counting machine (VCM), will cast their votes in special elections today.

“The special elections will be conducted in Barangay Dicamay 1, Jones, as a consequence of the intentional burning of the VCM in the area on election day,” James Jimenez, spokesman for the Commission on Elections (Comelec), said over the weekend.

On Saturday night, the Comelec issued a resolution mandating the holding of the special polls in the area.

The special elections will be held in clustered Precinct No. 18, which has 762 registered voters.

The poll body tasked a special electoral board (SEB) to handle the elections.

“Comelec employees will serve as members of the SEB, as there are no teachers willing or available to serve,” the Comelec said.

During last Monday’s elections, armed men burned the VCM used in Precinct No. 18 as it was being transported to the municipal hall.

The machine failed to transmit results due to poor signal, prompting the election officers to transport it to the town hall.