Army to deploy ‘substantial forces’ for Lanao del Sur special elections

LOCAL TENSIONS Residents of Tubaran, Lanao del Sur, block the municipal Comelec office to prevent the transport of unused ballots, vote-counting machines and other election paraphernalia. Twelve barangays in the town, with more than 6,000 registered voters, failed to hold the balloting due to “violence, threats and intimidation,” according to the regional Comelec director. —Divina M. Suson

ILIGAN CITY — The Army is prepared to deploy “substantial forces” in Lanao del Sur towns where special elections are to be held.

“The military forces  are substantial enough to secure the upcoming special election in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur due to the history of rido or family feud,” said Brigadier General Jose Ma. Cuerpo II, commander of the Army’s 103rd  Brigade based in Marawi City.

Cuerpo said the Army understand that “the people really wanted to vote freely.”

Lawyer Ray Sumalipao, regional director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said they have been coordinating with the Army and the regional police through Police Brigadier General Arthur Cabalona, to provide effective security support for the special election.

However, Sumalipao said the Comelec en banc has not yet approve a resolution setting the exact schedule of the special election for the 12 villages of Tubaran.

Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco said the poll body is eyeing the holding of special elections on May 24. Sumalipao said it was supposed to be held on May 12 but did not push through.

Sumalipao said the remaining votes from Tubaran do not affect the result  of votes for governor, vice governor  and congressman of the second  district.”

/MUF