Despite blasts, Lanao Norte plebiscite a go – Comelec exec

Police and military personnel man a checkpoint along the national highway in Lala, Lanao del Norte, as the people of the province cast their vote whether six of the province’s towns will be included in the soon-to-be-created Bangsamoro region. INQUIRER / JIGGER J. JERUSALEM

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, Philippines – Authorities urged people of this province to go out and vote whether six Lanao del Norte’s towns will be included in the new Bangsamoro region despite the explosions that occurred in three towns Monday, the eve of the Feb. 6 plebiscite.

Provincial election officer Joseph Hamilton Cuevas assured voters that security forces were deployed to ensure a peaceful plebiscite.

“No need to be afraid,” Cuevas said in a text message Tuesday, referring to the thousands of voters of this province who will cast their votes today, Wednesday.

“The explosions yesterday were meant to scare the people,” he said.

“We have enhanced our martial law checkpoint to check all movement of vehicles and to thwart any other untoward incidents today,” he added.

“(There will be) more visibility in the voting centers,” he assured voters.

Chief Insp. Salman Saad, the provincial police spokesperson, earlier said more than 2,000 law enforcers were deployed to polling centers and checkpoints in the province.

Some of the police officers came from other parts of Mindanao, he said.

“We also have quick reaction teams on standby,” Saad said, adding that bomb-sniffing dog units and Explosive and Ordnance Disposal teams were also awaiting orders.

Saad said the police were still investigating the explosions and verifying if these were caused by a grenade or improvised explosive device.

He said the first blast occurred in the business district of Lala town at 4:30 p.m. Seconds later, another explosion was reported in Kauswagan, some 59.8 kilometers away.

Late Monday night, another explosion was heard near the Mindanao State University high school in Sultan Naga Dimaporo.

“We still have to find out if [these blasts] were coordinated, or related to the plebiscite,” Saad said.

Supt. Surki Sereñas, regional police spokesperson, said no one was hurt in the incidents, as he clarified that the reports circulating that the devices used in the attack were grenade IED did not come from them.

“We appeal for calm and sobriety. This misinformation is the handiwork of those who want to sow fear and panic among the people of Lanao del Norte and derail the conduct of a peaceful and orderly plebiscite,” Sereñas said.

He said the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Dir. General Oscar Albayalde and PNP-10 regional director, Chief Supt. Timoteo Pacleb, will supervise the deployment of police forces.

“We will all do our best to provide appropriate security as the people of Lanao del Norte express their will in this plebiscite,” he said. /cbb