MORE than 800 policemen and soldiers will be deployed to secure special elections in 12 barangays in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur on May 24, the PNP said yesterday.
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said the PNP will deploy a total of 678 policemen while the Armed Forces will send 154 personnel for a total of 832 to ensure peace and order during the special polls.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) had declared a failure of elections in 12 barangays in Tubaran due to violence, threats and intimidation. These are Tangcal, Datumanong, Guiarong, Baguiangun, Wago, Malaganding, Gadongan, Riantaran, Pagalamatan, Mindamunag, Paigoday-Pimbataan, and Metadicop.
The poll body has also declared failure of elections in Barangay Ragayan in Butig town and Barangay Pindolonan in Binidayan town, both in Lanao del Sur.
Fajardo said the PNP was still awaiting word from the Comelec when the special elections in the two barangays will be held.
“More than 800 personnel will be deployed in connection with the special elections that will be held in the province of Lanao del Sur. The special elections, particularly in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur, will be held this coming May 24 involving 12 barangays,” said Fajardo.
“We are still awaiting the resolution that will be issued by the Comelec pertaining to (special elections) in Butig and Binidayan,” Fajardo added.
Fajardo said there are around 8,000 registered voters in the 12 barangays where the special elections will be conducted.
Fajardo said the elections in these 12 barangays may no longer affect the result of the elections when it comes to national candidates. “(But) it may spell a difference at the local level,” said Fajardo.
Tubaran town is among the 28 areas that were declared under Comelec control prior to the May 9 elections.
“Comelec is in control of the situation, the area is under Comelec control. If the Comelec would require us to add more troops on the ground, then the PNP and the AFP are ready to respond,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said they have not received any intelligence information about a “serious threat” to the conduct of the special elections in Tubaran town. She said contending local candidates have pledged to a peaceful conduct of the special elections.
“We have not received (reports on) serious threats particularly in the province of Lanao (del Sur) but the AFP and the PNP continue to conduct intelligence build up, monitoring and (information) gathering,” said Fajardo.
“This is to ensure that our countrymen there will be able to come out on May 24 and cast their vote without fearing for their safety and security,” Fajardo added.
Fajardo said the number of validated election-related incidents (ERIs) throughout the country has increased to 27 as the PNP accounted for seven new confirmed cases.
Three of the seven new cases occurred in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) while there was one case each in Central Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Central Visayas.
Of the 27 total validated ERIs, seven occurred in Zamboanga Peninsula, six in Central Luzon, five in CAR, four in Ilocos region, three in BARMM and one each in Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao.
Fajardo said 12 of the 27 ERI cases have been referred to the prosecutor’s office and five have been filed with the courts. The 10 others, she said, are still under police investigation.
The 27 cases were recorded during the election period, which started on January 9 and will end on June 8.
The 27 validated ERIs in this year’s elections is still way low compared to the 166 and 133 confirmed incidents recorded during the 2010 and 2016 presidential elections, respectively.
