Four men arrested after fistfight in voting precinct in Cotabato City

Four men were arrested after figuring in a fistfight while queueing in a voting precinct in Cotabato City Central Pilot School on Monday morning.

According to the report of GMA Regional TV’s Efren Mamac in “24 Oras,” one of the arrested men claimed that one of the guys was trying to sabotage the automated counting machines (ACM) in the precinct.

“May pumasok na lahat naman pinagsasarado, pinagsisira yung mga paraphernalias at yung mga PCOS machines. Botante kami, sir,” he said.

(Someone entered and everything was closed, the paraphernalia and the PCOS machines were destroyed. We are voters, sir.)

But the accused denied the allegations: “Yung mga watchers namin, pinapalabas nila, nila-lock nila yung pinto. Sinabi nila na nasira ang mga paraphernalias, walang nasira doon, sir.”

(They claim that our watchers locked the doors and the paraphernalia was broken, nothing was broken there, sir.)

The Cotabato City Police, however, said the root of the fistfight could have been due to the queue organization.

“May nagkaroon ng suntukan. Pinacify natin. Ang dahilan pala, magulo yung pila,” said Police Colonel Jibin Bongcayao.

(There was a fight. We pacified it. The reason was that the line was chaotic.)

Further, the police said they did not find any proof that there were any attempts to commit electoral fraud.

“Sa point of view, wala naman akong nakita. May watchers naman sila. Mag-reklamo yung mga watchers nila,” said Bongcayao.

(From my point of view, I didn't see anything wrong. They have watchers, so then their watchers will complain.)

But a settlement among parties involved has been reached, the report said. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News