Comelec mulls declaring poll failure in some Mindanao villages

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is considering declaring poll failure in some villages in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur after the conduct of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections there were suspended due to incidents of violence. On Monday, Comelec Election and Barangay Affairs Department director Teofisto Elnas said they are considering declaring failure of elections in some villages in Datu Unsay and Datu Salibo in Maguindanao, and Butig, Tugaya, and Tamparan in Lanao Del Sur. Elnas said elections in these areas were suspended either because of incidents of violence and terrorism or the non-appearance of Board of Election Tellers there. "We're trying to get specific reports from our field personnel," Elnas said at a press briefing. Elnas likewise said that they have yet to verify what acts of violence or terrorism ensued in the said villages. Earlier, a Mindanao-based poll watchdog reported that 11 out of 36 municipalities in Maguindanao were facing "disorderly elections." (See: Violence mars Maguidanao elections — citizen's group) The Citizens Coalition for ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao) Electoral Reform (Citizens CARE) said the affected municipalities were: