Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Fifty-two clustered precincts in seven provinces across the country underwent special elections on Saturday (May 14).
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared a failure of elections last May 9 in the provinces of Saranggani, Marinduque, Antique, Northern Samar, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, and the Municipality of Cordova in Cebu.
Special elections were held for various reasons, including logistical and technical concerns.
Ballot boxes and election paraphernalia were taken by armed men from four precincts in Brgy. Katuli in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, home to 703 voters. Fortunately, the vote counting machines (VCMs) were secured by VCM technicians.
A failure of elections was declared at clustered precinct 33 in Brgy. Gabi, Cordova, Cebu, home to 722 voters.
The Comelec said it was a “misdelivery” although it became apparent that there were no printed ballots that arrived intended for clustered precinct 33.
Five precincts at Brgy. Binucayan in Loreto, Agusan del Sur, catering to 746 voters, lacked 291 official ballots.
Meanwhile, four precincts at Brgy. Palayog in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, which has 685 voters, reported cases of misdelivered official ballots.
Failure of elections in the village of Roxas, Northern Samar was declared when residents evacuated their area on Sunday (May 8), following a firefight between suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and the military.
In the town of Nagpapacao, Western Samar, armed men stormed the village clustered precinct on Election Day and burned the VCMs.
Cordova, Cebu special elections
Despite the small number of voters, the failure of elections at clustered precinct 33 in Brgy. Gabi, Cordova has stalled the proclamation of winners for provincial officials, including that of incumbent Gov. Hilario Davide who is leading in the race against former GSIS president Winston Garcia.
Before the recess of the Provincial Board of Canvassers, Davide of the Liberal Party (LP) got 594,273 while Garcia under One Cebu Party got 578,912.
Although Garcia already admitted defeat, Davide may only be proclaimed winner after the Cordova special elections.
Binidayan, Lanao del Sur special elections
Policemen served as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) while members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assisted in the special elections at the municipality of Binidayan in Lanao del Sur.
A ground volunteer of election watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) reported a jamming of the VCM used in the voting center at the Mindanao State University Community High School in Brgy. Pagalamatan.
A contingency VCM was provided but the watchers of the opposing candidates refused to replace the jammed VCM because there are ballots already fed into the VCM in question.
The problem was resolved when both parties and the BEIs agreed that the voting continue, and the feeding of ballots into the replacement VCM will be conducted at a later time in the presence of watchers.
Elections in Binidayan are of special interest not only for the people of the municipality, but the second district of Lanao del Sur. Currently, the congressional race is tight between Jun Papandayan who leads over a thousand votes over rival Yasser Balindong, son of incumbent Rep. Pangalian Balindong.
Sultan Kudarat special elections
Amid the expected high voter turnout in Brgy. Katuli, Sultan Kudarat municipality in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat Municipal Election Officer Estilleta Orbase clarified that the result of the special elections will no longer affect the proclaimed local winners due to a large margin.
Incumbent mayor Shameem Mastura won against his uncle Engr. Ibrahim Ibrahim.
However, Orbase said the special elections is essential to complete the transmittal of the election result to the national office that may possibly affect the result of the votes for the president, vice president, senatorial candidates and party list.
Three personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) served as the BEIs for the special election when the teachers who were assigned as the BEIs backed out.
Samar provinces special elections
About 169 voters from the village of Roxas, Northern Samar cast their vote — such figure crucial to the tightly contested congressional race in Northern Samar First District between incumbent Rep. Harlin Abayon and former Rep. Raul Daza, with only 41 votes difference in favor of Abayon.
In Matuguinao town in Western Samar, about 300 voters of Brgy. Nagpapacao cast their votes today, critical in determining the winners of the Sangguniang Bayan Members.
From the present unofficial count in Matuguinao’s mayoralty race, incumbent Mayor Melissa Dela Cruz is about 526 votes ahead from her challenger Aran Boller and the results of the special elections in Brgy. Nagpapacao is already immaterial to her winning.
CNN Philippines’ Dale Israel, Sittie Ayeesha Dicali, Erwin Cabilbigan, and Rommel Rutor contributed to this report.
