Violence and violations mar polls at election hotspots

(Updated 10:07 a.m) By dressing up dogs with campaign shirts or having children distribute flyers, some candidates in the October 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections have defied the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) rules on last-minute campaigning. Meanwhile, violence reared its ugly head in the last few hours before the 7 a.m. start of voting in Monday’s barangay (village) and SK elections. Radio dzBB’s Cebu affiliate cited sketchy reports that a supporter of a barangay bet was shot dead in an ambush in in Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu between 3 and 4 a.m. The police reportedly managed to shoot one of the suspects. Meanwhile, a former councilor of Gapan City in Nueva Ecija was shot outside his house in Sta. Cruz Village, Gapan City at around 5:50 a.m. on Monday. PO2 Crisalde Huat did not immediately identify the victim. He said the victim was not a candidate in the October 25 polls but that police are still determining if his death is also related to the elections. “Narito sa waiting shed sa harap ng bahay, nagkakape with three neighbors. Dumating ang gunman riding in tandem sa isang XRM, pinaputukan nang sunod-sunod," he said on dzBB radio. (The victim was having coffee with neighbors at the waiting shed in front of his house when a motorcycle showed up and the man riding in the back shot him) In a radio interview, Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said they have started investigating reports of ballot-snatching incidents involving armed groups in Mindanao. "May balita kaming kinuha ang balota ng elementong armado. Ito ang balitang umaabot sa amin at ito ang aming tinitingnan (There are reports of armed groups snatching ballots. We are looking into the reports now)," Sarmiento told dwIZ. Last-minute campaigning Meanwhile, Radio dzBB reported that violations were noted in certain barangays (villages) in the cities of Quezon and Taguig considered by the Comelec as election hotspots. In Taguig City, children were caught giving flyers at a school in Bagumbayan village, one of the areas in Metro Manila considered as an "area of concern" by Comelec.
The report said the children gathered near the gate of the Cipriano P. Santa Teresa Elementary School and distributed the flyers to early voters, a violation of the Comelec's rules against last-minute campaigning. Supporters of certain candidates were also reported to have littered the school with posters and campaign materials, another violation of Comelec rules. School officials and security guards eventually drove the children away and removed some of the posters at the school premises. In Quezon City, dzBB’s Allan Gatus reported that children also distributed flyers at the Payatas-A Elementary School in Payatas, another area considered an area of concern. School officials drove out the children from the premises, the report said. Meanwhile, dzBB’s Sam Nielsen cited reports reaching the Department of Education that in at least one village in Metro Manila, a dog was dressed up in a candidate’s campaign garb. However, the report did not say if the Comelec will disqualify the candidates involved in the incidents. Elections delayed in several areas In several villages in Luzon, elections will be delayed due to the late arrival of poll paraphernalia on Monday. Radio dzBB’s Nimfa Ravelo also reported the elections were held off in three more areas: San Isidro and Salumague, both in Paniqui, Tarlac (schools were turned into evacuation centers after typhoon "Juan"), and Cagayancillo, Palawan (poll paraphernalia were not expected to arrive on time). The barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in 39 other areas in Divilacan, Maconacon and Palanan towns in Isabela were also postponed earlier as these areas were hit hard by super-typhoon “Juan" (international name: Megi) last week. –VVP/RSJ, GMANews.TV