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Poll watchers tell stories of tug-of-war with soldiers over ballots


The camp of mayoralty candidate Lominog Lao Jr. is set to file a petition for the annulment of election results in six barangays in Lumbatan, Lanao del Sur after his poll watchers accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) of election-related violence.

This comes after a video of an alleged standoff between the poll watchers and members of the 5th Infantry Battalion went viral on social media.

“It shows sa kamay ko with all the mga pasa. Hinampas nila, pati dito sa ano ko naapakan din nila. ‘Yung physical naman po, kaya nating tiisin ang di ko lang po matiis yung pagkakita ko sa mga military akala ko tutulungan nila kami tapos sila pala yung gagawa nang ganoon,” Ali Macabangkit, one of the poll watchers, said in Oscar Oida’s report on “24 Oras”.

(It shows in my hands and my bruises. I can let them get away with the physical infliction but what I cannot accept is the members of the military who were supposed to help us were the ones who did us harm.)

The poll watchers said they were traumatized and injured from the incident. They also presented a footage to the media showing a military vehicle sideswiping one of their members before fleeing the scene.

Further, they denied accusations they were taking over the city hall and said they were merely securing the ballots and vote counting machines (VCM) because the poll chairman had already left.

The AFP, for its part, denied members of the 5th Infantry Battalion hurt the poll watchers and snatched the ballots.

“Wala pong ini-snatch na balota o paraphernalia ang mga sundalo namin. Pagpunta ng mga VCM don, hawak na noong mga supporters ni opposition mayor ‘yung mga VCM at mga paraphernalia. So kinausap sila ng election officer, ayaw nilang ibigay. Then after about 2 hours, mga around 7 p.m., nagkaroon na ng putukan sa paligid ng munisipyo which case mga sundalo po natin ay nag-respond,” Ltc. Romulo Rabara said.

(The soldiers did not snatch any ballots or paraphernalia. When the VCM got there, the supporters of the opposition mayor secured it. The military talked to the election officer but they didn't want to give it. Two hours later, around 7 p.m., shooting ensued in the area of the municipal hall and the soldiers needed to respond.)

The Commission on  Elections (Comelec) said it is investigating how the ballots and VCM landed in the hands of the poll watchers. It also urged the involved individuals to file their sworn statement declaring the Comelec chairman left them to help shed light to the investigation.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA News

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