Reporters’ Notebook

Maguindanao

4 dead as polls rekindle ‘rido’

COTABATO CITY—At least four persons were killed in post-election violence in Talitay town, Maguindanao province, after a long-standing family feud was revived during the May 9 elections, according to police here.

Senior Insp. Freddie Solar, Talitay town police chief, said the clan war involving the Sabal and Buisan families was rekindled by the elections.

Solar said the warring clans are relatives and supporters of either the Moro National Liberation Front or Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). “This is not an ordinary ‘rido’ (clan war),” he said.

Talitay turned into a ghost town after residents fled on Friday as armed supporters of Mayor Muntasir Sabal and members of the Buisan clan were seen massing near the town center.

The Buisans support Sabal’s rival, Fahad Midtimbang, who lost in his bid.

“The residents knew a bigger clash is about to happen so they fled,” said Solar.

The feud, Solar said, was ignited again by the killing of a member of the Buisan family. The Buisans, seeking revenge and blaming the killing on the Sabals, attacked members of the Sabal clan, killing one of its members.

Solar said at least 3,000 families have sought shelter in schools in Datu Anggal town, also in Maguindanao.

He said Muslim leaders and MILF representatives are now negotiating a ceasefire. Edwin O. Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao

Pangasinan

Poll materials found thrown away

DAGUPAN CITY—Police and election officials of Alaminos City are investigating how election paraphernalia ended up as trash inside an abandoned building there.

The Alaminos police said the election materials were found by a resident inside a building at Tongling compound in Barangay Poblacion around 2 p.m. on Friday.

Police secured the area and coordinated with the Commission on Elections to determine if the materials were among those used in the May 9 elections.

Found scattered on the floor of the building were 23 pieces of brown envelopes marked “Commission on Elections Pilipinas 2016,” four bottles of indelible ink, sticker seals, one preshaded official ballot and 12 ballot secrecy folders.

Pangasinan has a voting population of 1,705,260, making it the third province with the most voters in the country.

Joel Gines, Pangasinan election supervisor, said 85 of every 100 registered voters, or 85.1 percent (1,451,347 voters), trooped to polling centers to cast their votes on May 9. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon

HATAMAN

ARMM

Hataman keeps seat as ARMM gov

COTABATO CITY—Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been reelected and proclaimed.

Hataman received 875,200 votes.

In a statement, Hataman said his reelection brings “greater challenges.”

These, he said, include the continued fight against poverty, “increase opportunities for our people and continue on the path of peace.”

“Victory means having a true democracy that works for the people, that allows us to claim our rights as citizens, and one that recognizes what it means for us to be Bangsamoro,” said Hataman. Edwin O. Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao