Voting to proceed in Bangued, Abra polling center even after fire school

Voting will push through in Bangued, Abra even after a fire hit an elementary school which was designated as a polling place in Eleksyon 2025, according to the Commission on Elections.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the fire destroyed about 70% of Dangdangla Elementary School in Bangued early Wednesday morning.

A total of 992 voters were posed to cast their ballots at the school on May 12.

There are 188,957 registered voters in Abra, of which, 35, 227 are in Bangued. There are 49 clustered precincts in 24 schools and voting centers in the province. 

“Hindi kami magpapatakot kung ‘yan man ay intentional. They will still vote in that particular place para makita ng mga kababayan natin habang sila ay bumoboto, ginawang abo ang mismong lugar kung saan nag-aaral ang mga kabataan, anak at mga apo ninyo,” Garcia told Kapihan sa Manila Bay.

(We will not be scared if this is intentional. They will still vote in the area to show what happened, that the place where the youth, their children, and their grandchildren study was destroyed.)

“’Yan ang pamalit natin, ‘yung balota. Parang isang declaration 'yan kung anuman ang gusto ninyong sabihin sa kung sinuman ang may kagagawan nito,” he added.

(The ballots are our answer to those behind this. It is a declaration from us.)

According to the latest update from the poll body, the main building of Dangdangla Elementary School was destroyed by the fire while two areas remain unaffected and operational. These will be used as priority polling place and administrative or storage area.

Makeshift polling centers, meanwhile, will be established in the area as part of the Comelec contingency plan.

The local Comelec is also expected to proceed with the final testing and sealing (FTS) of the automated counting machines (ACMs) at around 2 p.m.

Further, the early voting hours from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and pregnant women will continue on May 12. Regular voting hours will proceed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. —AOL, GMA Integrated News

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