THE Commission on Elections yesterday said security forces are now preparing for the special elections in Lanao del Sur scheduled tomorrow in 14 barangays where the poll body declared a failure of elections.
Elections Commissioner George Garcia said the PNP, AFP, and Philippine Coast Guard have been tapped to work with the poll body in conducting the special polls in 12 barangays in Tuburan town, and one barangay each in the towns of Butig and Binidayan.
“Handang-handa na ang Comelec. Ang ating AFP, PNP, at pat inga po ang PCG ay nakikipag-ugnayan na sa atin. Medyo dinadamihan natin ang ating puwersa diyan sa Lanao del Sur dahil sa posibilidad na magkaroon ng violence at magkaroon na naman ng kaguluhan diyan ay napakataas sa Tuburan (The Comelec is ready. The AFP, PNP, and PCG have been coordinating with us. We added security forces in Lanao del Sur because the possibility of violence occurring in Tuburan is very high),” Garcia said.
He said police forces will oversee the special elections in the 14 polling areas because teachers in the areas have been threatened by supporters of opposing candidates.
“Ang gagamitin natin ay mga miyembro ng PNP na ating na-train nang ilang araw at linggo (We will use members of the PNP who we trained for weeks),” Garcia said.
The poll body said at least 12 barangays in Tuburan town reported to have experienced violence, threats and intimidation in connection with the May 9 elections. These are barangays Tangcal, Datumanong, Guiarong, Baguiangun, Wago, Malaganding, Gadongan, Riantaran, Pagalamatan, Mindamunag, Paigoday-pimbtaan, and Metadicop.
Sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, the Comelec has already canvassed 172 of the 173 Certificates of Canvass as of last week, except for the COC of Tuburan.
Meanwhile, Garcia said Congress, which will convene as NBOC for the canvassing of the results of the presidential and vice presidential race, is expected to pass its own regulations and guidelines for the canvassing of votes once it resumes sessions today.
“Hindi po nila siyempre i-a-adopt ‘yung rules namin ng canvass at sa pagkaka-alam natin nag draft na sila ng kanilang rules at (ang mga ito ay) for approval bukas ng Senado at Mababang Kapulungan (Of course, they will not adopt our rules in canvassing and to my knowledge, lawmakers have already drafted their own rules which will be up for approval by the Senate and House of Representatives [today]),” Garcia said.
At the same time, Garcia said the poll body has asked cargo forwarder F2 Logistics to explain why election documents were found in a vacant lot in Amadeo, Cavite, videos and photos of which went viral on various social media platforms.
Garcia said initial investigation has shown that the “ballots” seen in the viral photos and videos were “training ballots from Tondo” and not the official ones used in the May 9 elections.
