Slow Internet delays proclamation in 2 South Cotabato towns

Commission on Elections’ vote counting machine.  INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

KORONADAL CITY – Slow internet connection in two South Cotabato towns delayed the proclamation of provincial winners in Monday’s elections, the Commission on Elections here said.

Lawyer Kendatu Laguialam, acting South Cotabato provincial election supervisor, said internet signal was so slow in T’boli and Norala towns that it took three days before the provincial board of canvassers proclaimed the winners for the gubernatorial, vice gubernatorial, members of the provincial board and House of Representatives.

“Blame it to very slow to zero internet signal,” said Laguialam, South Cotabato provincial election director and chair of the provincial board of canvassers (PBC).

Laguialam said the PBC completed canvassing of all election returns on Tuesday evening, except those from the towns of T’boli and Norala.

Laguialam said the internet signal in T’boli, an upland town in South Cotabato, was poor and he advised the municipal board of canvassers to look for higher ground where signal was strong “so they can transmit results.”

Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes (LP-NPC) has been reelected, while the new vice governor is Vic de Jesus, a former provincial board member.

For South Cotabato’s first congressional district, the board proclaimed  Representative-elect Pedro Acharon Jr. (NPC). In the second district, the board proclaimed Representative-elect Dinand Hernandez (NPC).  SFM/rga