Comelec, security forces readying for Lanao del Sur special elections –Garcia

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and security forces are now gearing up for the 2022 special elections in Lanao del Sur set on May 24, weeks after it reported a failure of elections, poll Commissioner George Garcia said on Sunday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Garcia noted that the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will work with the poll body to conduct the special elections in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur—the lone area that has yet to submit its Certificate of Canvass (COC) for the 2022 national and local elections.

“Handang handa na ang Comelec. Ang ating AFP, PNP, at pati nga po PCG ay nakikipag-ugnayan na sa 'tin. Medyo dinamihan natin ang ating puwersa diyan sa Lanao del Sur dahil ‘yung posibilidad na magkaroon ng violence at magkaroon na naman ng kaguluhan diyan ay napakataas sa Tubaran,” he said.

(The Comelec is ready. The AFP, PNP, and PCG are already coordinating with us. We have increased our forces there in Lanao del Sur because the possibility that violence will arise in Tubaran is very high.)

Garcia explained that PNP personnel will have to take over the special elections in 14 polling precincts in Tubaran so as not to put the teachers at risk.

“Ang gagamitin natin diyan ay hindi mga teacher sapagkat tinatakot ang mga guro natin eh. At natatakot din sila. At the same time, may mga pressure sa kanilang mga pamilya. Ang gagamitin natin ay mga miyembro ng PNP na ating na-train nang ilang araw at linggo,” he added.

(PNP personnel who were trained for several days and weeks will oversee the elections there and not the teachers who are being threatened and whose families are given pressure.)

According to the Comelec, at least 12 barangays in Tubaran reported violence, threats, and intimidation related to the 2022 elections. These barangays were Tangcal, Datumanong, Guiarong, Baguiangun, Wago, Malaganding, Gadongan, Riantaran, Pagalamatan, Mindamunag, Paigoday-pimbataan, and Metadicop.

The poll body, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) has already canvassed 172 out of 173 COCs as of Monday afternoon, sans the COC from Tubaran. —KG, GMA News