Failure of elections in 14 Lanao Sur barangays  

MANILA, Philippines — Failure of elections has been declared in 14 barangays in Butig, Binadayen and Tubaran towns in Lanao del Sur, affecting 8,295 voters.

The Commission on Elections en banc approved yesterday the recommendation of Comelec regional director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Rey Sumalipao to declare a failure of elections and hold special polls.

The Comelec has yet to set the date of the special polls.

Cited as reasons for the declaration of failure of elections were ballot snatching and violence resulting in damage to vote counting machines (VCMs) and official ballots.

“Considering that the elections for local positions in the concerned municipalities may still be affected by the number of registered voters in the above precincts and so as not to disenfranchise the foregoing locations, the Comelec resolved to hold the special elections,” the poll body said.

Sumalipao previously reported that the military failed to retrieve stolen official ballots while a policeman was stabbed while protecting the VCMs.

He said failure of elections should also be declared in clustered precincts in Barangay Pindolonan in Bindayan due to violent incidents resulting in the damage of VCMs and official ballots.

He also recommended the declaration of failure of elections in the clustered precincts in Barangays Tangcal, Datumanong, Guiarong, Baguiangun, Wago, Malaganding, Gadongan, Riantaran, Pagalamatan, Mindamunag, Paigoday-Pimbataan and Metadicop in Tubaran.

The poll body designated Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel to act as a special board of election inspectors.

Six persons were killed and 32 otheres were wounded in Mindanao during the elections on Monday.

Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, PNP directorate for operations director, appealed for calm among poll watchers to avoid violence during the counting of votes.

De Leon said the situation in Mindanao was generally manageable despite reports of violent incidents.

He said a commotion was also reported at the Lanao del Sur provincial capitol in Marawi on Tuesday due to confusion among supporters of local candidates.

Video footage showed a group of people trying to force their way into the capitol building, who also destroyed windows.

De Leon was in the BARMM on Tuesday to check security measures for post-election activities.

In Cotabato City, the poll body is verifying a video circulating on social media showing individuals in police uniform destroying alleged shaded ballots. - Evelyn Macairan, Robertzon Ramirez