Fires hit 2 schools to be used for BSKE

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Fires have damaged two schools to be used as polling precincts in tomorrow’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in Maguindanao del Norte.

Reports received by Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) police director, showed that fires hit the Ruminimbang Elementary School in Barira town and Central Pilot Elementary School in Datu Odin Sinsuat at around 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. yesterday, respectively.

Nobleza said responding personnel of the Barira and Datu Odin Sinsuat police as well as the Regional Mobile Force Company immediately secured the schools.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said the BSKE would be held “in the remaining rooms available.”

”Our election officers reported that voting can proceed since there are still classrooms available that can be used for the elections,” he said.

In an interview over dzBB, Garcia said the fires were ”suspicious” because there were no classes.

He said the Comelec condemns the incident if it was deliberate or intentional.

The Comelec said there are 361 areas classified under ”red” or areas of grave concern, a majority of them in the BARMM.

Barangay Ruminimbang, where one of the schools hit by fire was located, is under red category.

Meanwhile, 115 people have been arrested in Western Visayas for violating the gun ban.

Police said 109 civilians, three security guards and two law enforcers were arrested.

Eighty assorted guns, 48 bladed weapons, 347 bullets and two explosives were reportedly recovered from the suspects.

In Nueva Ecija, 49 unlicensed firearms were recovered and 54 people were arrested from Aug. 28 to Oct. 26, Col. Richard Caballero, Nueva Ecija police director, said.

He said six bladed weapons were also seized. — Gilbert Bayoran, Ramon Efren Lazaro