Brawls break out at Abra town poll precincts

BANGUED, ABRA — Two fights broke out between the supporters of rival candidates at two polling areas here in the first few hours of voting.

Bangued mayoral candidate Ryan Luna went to a precinct in Barangay Zone 3. He was holding a memorandum from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) that showed no local officials are allowed 50 meters near the polling area if they are not voting.

He warned the officials of the DILG order, but this caused a commotion.

Police Col. Alfredo Kiwad Dangani, acting provincial director, said Luna was reported to have slapped a supporter of his rival candidate.

Meanwhile, Luna’s camp reported seeing pre-shaded ballots at the precinct.

The police confiscated the materials for investigation.

Luna’s group then moved to Patucannay Elementary School to again remind candidates of the DILG memo where the second fight broke out.

The two rival groups also threw rocks at each other there.

The involved groups, including Luna, are being investigated at the provincial police office.