ILIGAN CITY (May 17)– The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) said it is still waiting the formal report from  the election officer of Balabagan, Lanao del Sur to act on the request of residents to declare failure of elections in Barangays Buenavista, Kalilangan, Lumbac and Tataya.
This after the barangay and SK elections on May 14 in the said areas did not pushed through due to commotion after supporters of a candidate got inside the polling precincts to snatch the ballots.
Raiza Mamenting, a voter said “Hingin po namin (sa COMELEC) na ideklarang failure of elections at mag-special elections para mga sundalo na ang mag-upo (na electoral board).”
Mamenting said “For the first time nangyari ito sa Balabagan, maruming election ng barangay at SK.”
Lawyer Ray Sumalipao, Provincial Election Supervisor of Lanao del Sur, said he will immediately act to resolve the problem once the report of the election officer reaches at his office.
“The election officer must make a report declaring that the election there was a failure, then we will conduct special elections,” Sumalipao said.
As of the afternoon of May 16, only Balabagan out of 1,080 barangays have not proclaimed its winners yet.
Sumalipao said that aside from the Balabagan incident, there were only few election-related problems in Lanao del Sur reported to his office.
In Saguiaran, two civilians were shot by still an unidentified suspects, an hour before the election officially opened in Barangay Maito Basak.
Sumalipao however claimed,  “Flying voters daw to sila, gipusil. Dunay gipatay sa Tubaran on the eve of election and on election day, dunay namatay pero na-highblood. Sa Tugaya duna pud namatay.”
Inspector Karl Vincent Centinaje, chief of Saguiaran Municipal Police Station said Louie Rey Dunken and Manuelito Siarot were traveling from Iligan City to Saguiaran with a companion identified only as alias Bantam when they were shot.
In TUbiran, lanao del Sur, a candidate who was running unopposed was killed while sleeping inside his house in in Barangay Malaganding in Tubaran, dawn of May 13.
Police identified the victim as Hadji Ansary, he  was running unopposed as barangay captain.
Police said, the unknown suspect/s fled to unknown direction after shooting the victim and ruled out personal grudge as motive of the killing.
“As per COMELEC resolution, legal substitution will be made by the spouse, kung mga ingon ani. Kung single walay spouse, after the proclamation of winning barangay councilors, law of succession (by the first councilor) and appointment (of the seventh member of barangay council) will be applied,” Sumalipao said.
In Lanao del Norte, 506 barangays have completed canvassing of votes and proclaimed winners despite of some fist fights in some areas and three shooting incidents.
On May 8, a shooting incident happened in Barangay Adapon Ali in Baloi where one Ali Omar, 36, was killed.
It was followed by another shooting incident on May 10 in Barangay Punod in Pantar that killed certain Alemoding Lubguban Tawano, 25.
Col. Robert Dauz, commander of the 2nd Mechanize Brigade, Philippine Army, said the investigation of the two shooting incidents led to the law enforcement operation at the Sattelite office of Pantar Mayor Jabar Tago where several high-powered firearms were recovered.
On May 15,  a gun battle happened in Barangay Kaludan, Nunungan between the two opposing candidates for barangay chairman that lasted for 15 minutes.
Lt. Col. Ronel Manalo, commander of the 5th Mechanized Battalion.=, said  “It was reported that the two parties has existing rido or family feud.”-Divina Suson/ NewsLine.ph
