'Isolated' incidents, ballot-snatching mar 2013 barangay polls

(Updated 12:03 a.m., October 29, 2013) “Isolated” incidents of strafing, shooting, and snatching of ballots or ballot boxes marred the conduct of the 2013 barangay elections on Monday, resulting in at least one fatality. "These are very isolated cases. When you compare it to the stats of 2010, it is very much lower," said Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. at a press briefing. As of 1 p.m. the Comelec has received 18 reports of election-related peace and security concerns that happened on October 27 and on the elections day itself. Topping the list were three strafing incidents, two cases of ballot and ballot box snatching, and two shooting incidents, according to a list provided by the Comelec. The strafing incidents occurred in the following:

• Barangay Hall of Mati in Digos City, Davao Del Sur was fired upon with M-16 rifles, wounding barangay tanod Larry Remios
• Civilians from the group of a candidate for barangay chairman was strafed at the boundary of Macasindig and Pikit, Midsayap, Cotabato
• The house of barangay chairman Abel Lopez was fired upon at Barangay Basco, Mariveles, Bataan

A shooting incidents occurred in Barangay Poblacion, Toboso, Negros Occidental, where a certain Jun Villeza and Bryan Bacordo was shot by three suspects. Villeza died while Bacordo was wounded. The Comelec had earlier reported a shooting incident in Barangay Nagba, Cuartero, Capiz. The groups of kagawads Raffy Patno and Joselito Mayo were said to have exchanged gunfire, but the poll body later confirmed that there was no such shooting incident. Other incidents Meanwhile, ballots and other election paraphernalia in Barangay Bukut-Umus, Tabuan-Lasa, Basilan were reported to have been snatched on elections day, while a ballot box was also snatched from the Board of Election Tellers in Barangay San Antonio, Catubig, Northern Samar. The poll body had also earlier said the official ballots in Barangay Tonsuya, Malabon were missing. But these were later found in the possession of an election teller in another clustered precinct. Among the other election-related violent incidents were an explosion at Don Mariano Marcos Elementary School and Isaac Ablayan Elementary School on October 27, as well as the holding-up of voters in Barangay Marfil, Rosario, Agusan Del Norte allegedly by supporters of a barangay chairman on October 28. Brillantes said they have responded immediately to the areas where these election-related incidents occurred. He said they have sent reprinted ballots in the instances of missing and snatched ballots "The enumerated incidents ay nare-remedy agad because of contingency placed in our general instructions," he said. As of Sunday, the Philippine National Police said the number of election-related violent incidents rose to 34, including 30 shootings and two stabbings. In a statement on Monday, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio "Sonny" Coloma Jr. said the Comelec had sufficiently prepared for the reported incidents of ballot snatching and vote buying. "Kasama ito sa napaghandaan ng Comelec at may nakalaang mga improvised ballots sa mga presinto upang tiyaking matutuloy ang eleksyon.  Natunton din ang ilang insidente ng pamimili ng boto at pananagutin ang mga nahuli," he said. But he noted that no big problems were reported in Lanao del Norte and Maguindanao, which he said are among the areas of concern in ARMM.   "Umaasa tayong wala nang gaanong magiging problema sa  bilangan ng mga balota, bagama’t patuloy na nakaantabay ang pamahalaan. Maaaring makita ng mamamayan ang malinaw na resulta ng halalan hanggang bukas," he said. In the meantime, Coloma asked the public to continue being vigilant. "Nanawagan kami sa sambayanan na ipagpatuloy ang pagmamasid at pagtutok sa bilanganan ng boto upang matiyak na magiging ganap ang tagumpay ng halalang ito bilang proseso sa pagpili ng mga karapat-dapat mamuno at manungkulan sa mga barangay na siyang pundasyon ng demokrasya," he said. — with a report by Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK/BM/DVM, GMA News