Comelec weighs pros and cons of bid to postpone Zambo City village polls

The Comelec is set to decide next week whether to postpone the village polls in Zamboanga City, which is still staggering from the destruction caused by the almost three-week battle during the siege led by the Nur Misuari faction of the Moro National Liberation Front.

After his visit to the city, commissioner Christian Robert Lim said the poll body is still studying the pros and cons of postponing the elections there.

Lim refused to reveal his recommendations, but he said almost all stakeholders – from the military and police forces to the education department and local government officials – recommended postponing the polls in the city.

"Sa lahat ng kinonsulta namin, they're asking us na, rehabilitate Zamboanga city muna," Lim said after a forum on campaign finance Friday.

Pressed on details of the damage in Zamboanga city, Lim said two or three schools used as voting centers were burned.

Some Comelec offices were also situated in evacuation centers, he added.

Lim said postponement could help in efforts at ensuring peaceful elections in a city that has seen conflict, destruction, and massive evacuation of residents when the MNLF staked an independence bid there.

The siege began on Sept. 9, and on Sept. 28 the Defense Department announced the crisis was at an end.

"It's security. It's still on red alert there. Not only from stragglers, but also MNLF surrenderees. Hindi mo alam how the situation will break out," Lim said.

The disadvantages of postponing the polls? Lim said some candidates may take advantage of the conflict to maintain their posts.

"It might send a precedent for (candidates) na, gugulu-guluhin namin, para magka-holdover," Lim said.

"They'd rather have failure of elections para mag-holdover ang mga incumbent," he added.

Lim said stakeholders are asking for a 30-day postponement from the Oct. 28 elections. Another recommendation is to have the polls in February 2014.

"Hindi naman unreasonable ang hinihinging time period," he said.

The Comelec earlier said they may postpone the elections in Zamboanga City, particularly in the worst-hit villages such as Mariki, Rio Hondo, Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina, Talon Talon, Kasanyangan, Arena Blanco, Mampang and Tugbungan.

Around 54 million voters are expected to vote in the barangay polls. Meanwhile, only 3.2 million are for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, which has been postponed by the President.

The Comelec has set aside 170,603 clustered precincts for the barangay polls and 45,775 for the SK elections.

There are 42,028 barangays in 80 provinces across the country. — LBG, GMA News