Tubaran, Lanao del Sur special elections. Image courtesy of Comelec BARMM Regional Election Director Rey Sumalipao
MANILA, Philippines — Special elections in 12 barangays of Tubaran town in Lanao del Sur opened Tuesday morning, more than two weeks after a failure of elections was declared in the area.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia said that the treasurer’s office opened at 4:14 a.m. for inspection of poll paraphernalia. Distribution of poll paraphernalia to the special electoral boards followed.
Unlike the May 9 elections where teachers regularly served as electoral board members, 60 personnel of the Philippine National Police as well as Army soldiers were tapped to serve as special board of election inspectors to ensure “peaceful and orderly” conduct of polls in Tubaran barangays.
All 15 clustered precincts in 12 barangays kicked off voting after the Comelec declared a failure of polls last May 9.
The following are the vote opening time of each clustered precinct:
Malaganding – 6 a.m.
Metadicop – 6 a.m.
Datumanong – 6 a.m.
Tangcal 3 – 6 a.m.
Guiarong – 6:04 a.m.
Tangcal 1 – 6:04 a.m.
Tangcal 2 – 6:08 a.m.
Paigoay 2 – 6:10 a.m.
Baguiangun – 6:15 a.m.
Paigoay 1 – 6:16 a.m.
Mindamudag – 6:20 a.m.
Wago – 6:21 a.m.
Pagalamatan – 6:48 a.m.
Riantaran – 6:57 a.m.
Gadongan – 7:02 a.m.
As of 8:56 a.m., no glitches or other issues were reported, said Garcia.
Around 6,000 residents were expected to cast their ballots in Tubaran, one of the towns in the province with long history of election violence.
As in Tubaran, armed men snatched away a vote-counting machine and ballots on election day, halting the balloting exercise in a precinct in Butig Central School, in Butig, Lanao del Sur, prompting the Comelec to declare a failure of elections.