No more special elections in Binidayan, Butig in Lanao del Sur —Comelec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said it will no longer conduct special polls in Binidayan and Butig in Lanao del Sur as earlier proposed.

At a press briefing, Comelec deputy executive director for operations Teopisto Elnas said winners have already been proclaimed in the two areas, where “failure of elections” was previously declared.

“So far wala na tayong areas na magkakaroon tayo ng special elections. Na-proclaim na 'yung dalawang areas na supposedly may mga initial reports na hindi nakapag-conduct ng elections,” he said.

(So far, we no longer have areas where special elections will be held. There had been proclamations in that two areas where there were initial reports that no election was conducted.)

“Hindi na po sila (Binidayan and Butig) dahil na-proclaim na po 'yung mga kandidato doon (They will no longer conduct special elections because candidates have already been proclaimed there),” he said.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said the initial declaration of failure of elections in Binidayan and Butig by the poll body’s local office was a mistake considering that they were able to proclaim winners.

He said the system requires a threshold to print a certificate of proclamation and the two towns have not requested to lower the threshold. It means the precincts were able to transmit enough votes, he added.

“So technically 'yung initial na report from the field was wrong,” he added.—AOL, GMA News