Failure of elections declared in 3 villages

Three villages in Visayas and Mindanao will be holding special polls, along with 11 towns, on Saturday, May 14.

The Commission on Elections, through Comelec Resolution No. 10135, declared failure of elections in Barangay Katuli, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; Barangay Binucayan in Loreto, Agusan del Sur; and Barangay Palayog in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental.

The decision affects at least 2,134 voters in the three villages, and another 17,657 voters from 11 towns.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police shall intensify efforts to ensure the holding of orderly and peaceful special elections in the aforementioned areas,” the resolution stated. 

No election was held in a clustered precinct in Barangay Katuli because the ballot box, including other election paraphernalia, was forcibly taken by some 20 unidentified men during the voting period. The members of the Board of Election Inspectors escaped unharmed.

Lack of official ballots and wrong delivery of official ballots were the cause of poll postponement in a clustered precinct in Barangay Binucayan and Barangay Palayog, respectively. — BAP, GMA News