Special polls for 12 villages in North Cotabato town to be held Friday

PIKIT, North Cotabato, Philippines—All is set for Friday’s special barangay elections in 12 villages here with the police acting as board of election tellers (BETs).

Lawyer Duque Kadatuan, North Cotabato election officer, said about 150 policemen would serve as BETs in the special balloting to be held in the villages of Bago Inged, Gocotan, Balong, Barongis, Balongis, Balabac, Bulol, Talitay, Rajamuda, Bualan, Buliok, and Lagundi.

Balloting in these areas failed on October 28 after the public school teachers, serving as BET, refused to conduct the balloting due to security reasons.

Despite the presence of soldiers and policemen in the villages on election day, teachers refused to administer the elections, claiming they armed men threatened to harm them if the election pushed through.

Kadatuan said the Commission on Elections relieved officer Joel Celis from his post as Pikit acting election officer and designated Angelita Failano.

Kadatuan said about 150 cops from PNP in Central Mindanao underwent extensive training on poll administration, counting and canvassing ahead of Friday’s election.

According to Kadatuan, citing a Comelec en banc resolution, the election will be held in 12 barangays but the counting and canvassing will be held at the town center.

Some 10,000 voters were affected in the failure of election and are expected to cast their votes Friday.

Jessie Ined, executive assistant of North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza, has appealed to voters to go out and vote and exercise their right to choose their leaders.

“Please come out and vote early,” Ined said.