Comelec Declares Failure Of Elections In 11 Areas; To Conduct Special Polls On May 14

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has declared failure of elections in 11 municipalities in the country after voting did not push through last May 9, affecting 17,657 registered voters.

Comelec Resolution No. 10129 said there were a total of 52 clustered precincts from 11 towns, mostly in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Eastern Visayas where no elections were held last Monday due to problems in the ballots and security concerns.

“The National Operational Support Center received verified reports that no elections were held in the following areas,” said the resolution dated May 11.

The areas that did not have elections due to problems in the ballots, were one clustered precinct in Cordova, Cebu; one clustered precinct in Maitum, Sarangani; one clustered precinct in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque; one clustered precinct in Anini-y, Antique; and one clustered precinct in San Remigio, Antique.

On the other hand, the places that have security concerns that led to failure of elections in one clustered precinct in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar; one clustered precinct in Matuguinao, Western Samar; 26 clustered precincts in Binidayan, Lanao del Sur; six clustered precincts in Pata, Sulu; 10 clustered precincts in Panglima Estino, Sulu; and three clustered precincts in Tamparan, Lanao del Sur.

Section 6 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) provides that failure of elections may be declared on account of force majeure, violence, terrorism, fraud, or other analogous causes when the election in any polling place has not been held on the date fixed.

It also provides that the Commission shall call for the holding or continuation of the election not held or suspended on a date reasonably close to the date of the election and must not be later than 30 days.

These areas will be holding special elections on Saturday, May 14.

In particular to areas where there are security concerns, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been directed to intensify security efforts during the holding of the special polls.

On the other hand, the poll body has ordered the immediate printing and shipping of the necessary number of ballots.

The resolution added that proclamation of winning candidates in the affected localities should be withheld if the votes from the special polls would affect the result.(PNA) SCS/FGP/EDS