Elections suspended in 3 Samar barangays amid violence, explosion

Three incidents of election-related violence marred polls in Samar, where 162 villages were identified as election hotspots.

 

According to the Commission on Elections, the Board of Election Tellers in Barangay Giaboc in Gandara town fled after an explosion was heard in the area. Armed men with firearms and bladed weapons were also seen inside the polling place.

 

Elections in the barangay were suspended and will resume Tuesday. Only 20 voters had managed to mark their ballots before the suspension.

 

Voters and poll officials in Barangay Banaaw in Santa Margarita meanwhile reported seeing armed men in the vicinity, causing a commotion that saw voting also postponed to Tuesday.

 

Elections in Barangay Dogongan in Jiabong were also moved to Tuesday after incumbent barangay chairman Carlito Laboc allegedly challenged people to a fist fight in an attempt to stop the voting. The Comelec declined to elaborate. 

 

The Comelec had earlier reported that voters in Barangay Marfil in Rosario, Agusan Del Norte had been held up, allegedly by supporters of the incumbent barangay chairman. 

 

The Comelec also cited another shooting incident after an unidentified assailant allegedly fired an M79 grenade launcher at the house of Satar Kabunto, a candidate for chairman in Barangay Gucutan in Pikit, North Cotabato on October 27. The poll commission said it has yet to confirm the report.

 

In Metro Manila, cases of vote buying, illegal campaigning, and violation of the gun ban marred elections in Metro Manila.

 

Police arrested a certain Mario Yu Sulayao for carrying a .45 caliber gun in Kalauaan Elementary School in Pasig City while a certain Richard Bautista was also apprehended by Bantay Bayan members in Barangay Guadalupe, Makati City for alleged vote buying, the Comelec said.

 

Police also warned candidates in Barangay Kamuning in Quezon City against distributing campaign materials on election day.

 

By Monday afternoon, Comelec had received 28 reports of election-related peace and security concerns that happened on October 27 and on the elections day itself. Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said these were "isolated cases."

 

The Philippine National Police has recorded 40 incidents of election violence since the poll period started on September 28, up from 25 incidents in 2010. 

 

At least five were killed on election day alone. Two in Negros Occidental, and one each in Maguindanao, Basilan, and Samar, the PNP said. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/JDS/ELR, GMA News