The Philippine Online Chronicles

The special elections being held in seven towns in Lanao del Sur is off to a “peaceful start,” reported GMA News. Today’s polls are being held after a failure of elections was declared in the region last May 10, due to the failure of members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) to appear as they were under pressure by local private armies.

Today, voters in the towns of Tubaran, Lumbaca-Unayan, Sultan Dumalondong, Bayang, Marogong, Masiu and Lumbayanague will drop their ballots under the vigilance of more than 2,000 military and police personnel sent to the area to prevent violent activity. A total gun ban is also being enforced during the duration of the polls under the order of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa.

“Three speedboats also conducted seaborne patrol in coastal areas to prevent armed groups that may take advantage of the opportunity to sow terror that may disenfranchise voters who wanted to exercise their right of suffrage,” added Brigadier General Rey Ardo, commanding general of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade.

Election Officer Maryann Mangudada also said that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had sent lawyers from its Special Actions Office (SAO) to act as BEIs.

Elections director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Remlane Tambuang added that some police trainees have also been taught how to use the PCOS machines, in the event that more elections officers are needed.

“These trainees underwent training on the operation of the PCOS and procedures for voting and counting,” he said.

“The SAO lawyers have come in advance and conducted training on the operations of the PCOS (Precinct Count Optical Scan) machines. It’s all set for the special elections,” she said.

Special elections are also being held today in Basilan and Sarangani where declarations of failure of elections were made last May.