Comelec declares failure of elections in 11 towns

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said it has declared failure of elections in 11 towns in eight provinces across Visayas and Mindanao.

In a resolution, the poll body's en banc ordered the conduct of elections in identified barangays on May 14, Saturday.

Military and police forces were ordered to "intensify efforts to ensure the holding of orderly and peaceful" polls.

Failure of elections affected 52 clustered precincts with a total of 17,657 voters.

Areas affected are as follows:

• Barangay Gabi, Cordova, Cebu — 1 clustered precinct, 436 of 772 registered voters
• Maitum, Sarangani — 1 clustered precinct, 677 registered voters
• Sta. Cruz, Marinduque — 1 clustered precinct, 621 registered voters
• Barangay Mabuyong, Anini-y, Antique — 1 clustered precinct, 691 registered voters
• Barangay Insubuan, San Remigio, Antique — 1 clustered precinct, 158 voters
• Barangay Roxas, Lope de Vega, Northern Samar — 1 clustered precinct, 169 registered voters
• Nagpapacao, Matuguinao, Western Samar — 1 clustered precinct, 285 registered voters
• Binidayan, Lanao del Sur — all 26 clustered precincts, 7,845 registered voters
• Pata, Sulu — 6 clustered precincts, 1,670 registered voters
• Panglima Estino, Sulu — 10 clustered precincts, 4,058 registered voters
• Tamparan, Lanao del Sur — 3 clustered precincts, 1,047 registered voters

The en banc has ordered the suspension of proclaiming the winning candidates if the special elections will affect the results.

Comelec Resolution No. 10129 said there were a total of 52 clustered precincts from 11 towns, mostly in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Eastern Visayas, that no elections were held last Monday due to problems in the ballots and security concerns.

“The National Operational Support Center received verified reports that no elections were held in the following areas,” said the resolution dated May 11.

The areas that did not have elections due to problems in the ballots, were one clustered precinct in Cordova, Cebu; one clustered precinct in Maitum, Saranggani; one clustered precinct in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque; one clustered precinct in Anini-y, Antique; and one clustered precinct in San Remigio, Antique.

On the other hand, the places that have security concerns that led to failure of elections in one clustered precinct in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar; one clustered precinct in Matuguinao, Western Samar; 26 clustered precincts in Binidayan, Lanao del Sur; six clustered precincts in Pata, Sulu; 10 clustered precincts in Panglima Estino , Sulu; and three clustered precincts in Tamparan, Lanao del Sur.

Section 6 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) provides that failure of elections may be declared on account of force majeure, violence, terrorism, fraud, or other analogous causes when the election in any polling place has not been held on the date fixed.

It also provides that the Commission shall call for the holding or continuation of the election not held or suspended on a date reasonably close to the date of the election and must not be later than 30 days. — ALG/APG, GMA News