All polling precincts closed except one in Northern Samar

As of this writing, voting for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan posts has been finished nationwide, except in one barangay in Northern Samar, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced in a press briefing on Monday evening at its head office in Intramuros, Manila.

According to acting Comelec Chairman Al Parreño details had not yet to reach the main office because the concerned barangay is in a far-flung district.

“Elections are closed in almost all except one barangay in Northern Samar. Hindi pa sure if failure of elections will be declared. Medyo malayo yung area,” Pareño said.

Generally peaceful elections

The elections have been generally peaceful, according Col. Edgard Arevalo and Senior Supt. Narciso Domingo, speaking for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philipoine National Police (PNP) respectively.

“As of 8 p.m. no major untoward incident transpired that could disrupt the casting of ballots,” Arevalo said. “Even the M203 ground explosion in Datu Unsay Maguindanao before noon today and another M203 incident in Maguindanao before polling closed at 3 p.m. did not disrupt the conduct of the elections.”

Meanwhile, Domingo said the PNP recorded 1,328 cases of electoral law violations, 1,383 firearms confiscated, and more than 8,000 other deadly weapons seized.

PNP also said that there were 43 reported violent incidents, with seven of reports already validated as election-related.

Vote buying

Interior Undersecretary Martin Dino said incidents of vote buying and flying voters were reported to the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

He also added that reports increased in comparison to previous election data, mainly because of social media engagement and citizen reportage.

“Sa amin nasa 100 na, pero marami pa ring nagtetext ngayon. Kaya dumami ang vote buying (reports) dahil sa cellphones eh, talagang ngayon natutong magreport ang ating mga botante,” Dino said.

Dino noted, however, that all complaints would have to be validated first.

“Pero iba ‘yong report sa text, iba ‘yong affidavit,” he said. “Syempre kailangan i-treat natin ‘yong complaints for validation.” /atm