Elections fail in 11 Lanao Sur towns amid security threats

AMITA LEGASPI, GMANews.TV The Commission on Elections on Monday declared failure of elections in 11 municipalities in Mindanao after teachers declined to serve as board of election inspectors (BEIs) amid security threats. In a press briefing, Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said despite augmentation of forces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), there was a failure of election in the municipalities of Bayang, Lumbatan, Madalum, Binidayan, Puales, Sultan Dumalondong, Lumba-Bayabao, Masiu, Kapai and Lumbayanague all in Lanao del Sur. Other reports, however, indicated that the Monday balloting did not push through in 15 towns of the province. He said BEI assigned in the area backed out for fear of their lives. Unidentified people reportedly terrorized the teachers. Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos said they would schedule the elections the soonest possible time as it will affect in the ranking of senatorial candidates. He said the area has 60,000 to 70,000 registered voters. He said a failure of election was also declared in Caiontor village, municipality of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. Comelec reported that around 7:25 am, a group of teachers, escorted by Army and police personnel, were walking toward the school when 20-armed men started firing at them. The teachers sprawled and asked their escorts not to retaliate as they might be trapped in the crossfire. When the armed men left, the BEIs run to a nearby village bringing with them election paraphernalia. On the other hand, elections were postponed in various provinces. The Comelec reported that elections in six precincts in Basilan were postponed after a misunderstanding with BEIs. In the municipality of Barira, Shariff Kabunsuan, elections were postponed after supporters of Mayor Alex Tumawis refused to give the election paraphernalia. Comelec is yet to decide if they will declare a failure of election in the area. The elections in Zamboanga del Norte were postponed due to the reported presence of Abu Sayyaf elements 50 kilometers from the Poblacion. Earlier Monday, the Comelec en banc postponed the elections in Pantar, Lanao del Norte due to presence of some 2,000 unverified voters. Abalos said they have nullified the registration of voters whose identity were questionable. He said they will announce the resumption of the elections in the area within 30 days. "All parties must agree on the date of elections," Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, who is in-charge of the area, said. Voting in at least 17 precincts in Biñan, Laguna, was delayed because teachers did not report. The teachers were reportedly not registered voters prompting the Comelec to designate new BEIs. The election extended until 6pm In Pantao, where two bundles of ballots went missing, the voting started around 11 am when the replacement election paraphernalia arrived and the balloting was extended until 6 pm. - GMANews.TV