Comelec finds discrepancies in Lanao del Norte, Pigkawayan COC

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) found discrepancies in the certificates of canvass (COC) from the province of Lanao del Norte and the municipality of Pigkawayan, North Cotabato on Tuesday.

Comelec Commission Secretary Consuelo Diola said the audit group of the commission found an inconsistency in the number of voters for Lanao del Norte.

“Your honor, we received an audit report from the audit group for Lanao del Norte. They have found that the grand total of the number of registered voters appearing in the statement of votes is 352,518,” Diola told Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas when asked for an update on the certificate of canvass in Lanao. “But according to our records of the Election Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD) of this commission, the number of registered voters is 352,494.”

Upon the recommendation of the audit group, Diola said the record from the commission’s department will be followed.

With this, the Comelec declared that the votes from the province of Lanao del Norte as canvassed.

“We will declare that error as a formal error; and therefore, the canvass of COC from Lanao del Norte is considered canvassed,” Abas said.

Meanwhile, in the municipality of Pigkawayan, a discrepancy was reported on the total number of ‘no’ votes.

“In the statement of votes by the precinct, it is 483, but in the tabulation of these votes, the [number] of “no” votes is 783,” Diola said.

“The observation of the audit (group) is that the total number of votes cast for “yes” [votes] and the inclusion of Barangay Matilac, Municipality of Pigkawayan, province of North Cotabato, in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region as reflected is 451,” she added.

“Therefore, the discrepancy of 300 in the total number of votes cast for [the]  “no” [votes] and the inclusion of Barangay Matilac, Municipality of Pigkawayan, province of North Cotabato in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, has no effect since the votes cast for the “no” is still greater than the “yes” votes cast,” Diola continued.

The COC for the municipality of Pigkawayan remains pending in the tabulation and auditing groups of the Comelec.

The session was declared suspended at the end of the day on Tuesday. It would reconvene on Wednesday at 4 p.m. /ee