Special polls in Shariff Kabunsuan, Lanao fail
BY MARK MERUENAS
12/17/2007 | 11:36 AM
Incidents of violence and ballot snatching forced the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to declare anew a failure of the December 15 special elections in at least 18 villages in Lanao del Sur and Shariff Kabunsuan provinces.
Radio dzMM said that elections did not push through in 16 villages in Lanao del Sur including nine villages in Marawi City, four in Sultan Dumalondong, and one each in Lumbaca-Unayan, Lumba-Bayabao, and Bayang towns.
The report quoted authorities as receiving reports of misunderstanding among supporters and political rivals as well as cases of alleged ballot snatching.
Authorities were also quoted as saying that tension and panic also gripped several villages after a group of armed men fired shots in the air.
Meanwhile, the report added that voters in two villages in Shariff Kabunsuan were also unable to cast their votes after Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officials identified as certain Umbra Kato and Wahid Tondoc prevented poll officials from holding elections in their respective villages.
The Comelec scheduled special elections held last Saturday in more than 70 villages in Shariff Kabunsuan, Cotabato City, Basilan and Sulu, according to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Police.
GMA News reported over the weekend that special elections in the island province of Sulu as well as in Pasay City were conducted peacefully without any major incident of violence. - GMANews.TV
Radio dzMM said that elections did not push through in 16 villages in Lanao del Sur including nine villages in Marawi City, four in Sultan Dumalondong, and one each in Lumbaca-Unayan, Lumba-Bayabao, and Bayang towns.
The report quoted authorities as receiving reports of misunderstanding among supporters and political rivals as well as cases of alleged ballot snatching.
Authorities were also quoted as saying that tension and panic also gripped several villages after a group of armed men fired shots in the air.
Meanwhile, the report added that voters in two villages in Shariff Kabunsuan were also unable to cast their votes after Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officials identified as certain Umbra Kato and Wahid Tondoc prevented poll officials from holding elections in their respective villages.
The Comelec scheduled special elections held last Saturday in more than 70 villages in Shariff Kabunsuan, Cotabato City, Basilan and Sulu, according to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Police.
GMA News reported over the weekend that special elections in the island province of Sulu as well as in Pasay City were conducted peacefully without any major incident of violence. - GMANews.TV
