Comelec: May 13 polls to push through in war-torn Marawi

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said the May 13 polls will push through in war-torn Marawi City, even as it is still reeling from the effects of the five-month battle between the government forces and Islamic State-linked terrorists two years ago.

“Makakapagconduct na tayo ng elections sa Marawi, especially doon sa ground zero. Doon mismo sa mga evacuation centers kung saan sila. We set up voting centers para accessible sa kanila,” Comelec Director Teopisto Elnas, Jr., deputy project director for the May 13 polls, said in a press briefing.

(We can conduct elections in Marawi, especially on ground zero. We can set up voting centers that would be accessible to the people like evacuation centers.)

According to Comelec data, there will be 33 voting centers in Marawi City on election day for the 63,014 registered voters under 106 clustered precincts.

The Comelec postponed the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in Marawi because of the conditions in the city then. But four months later, Marawi voters were able to cast their votes via a special election.

READ: Marawi barangay and SK polls set for Sept. 22 – Comelec

Homegrown Maute terrorists laid siege to Marawi on May 23, 2017, prompting a battle between Islamic State-inspired combatants and government troops for five months.

The government has allocated P67.99 billion for the rehabilitation of the city, which started in October 2018 after months of delay. /ee

READ: Rebuilding Marawi: Rising from ground zero