Special Polls Peaceful In South RP

A Filipino soldier guards ballot boxes in the southern province of Sulu. security officials say special polls Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007 are generally peaceful in the provinces. (Mindanao Examiner Photo/Nickee Butlangan)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 15, 2007) – Special polls in the southern Philippines were generally peaceful as elections in seven provinces ended Saturday without bloodshed, security officials said.

Special Barangay (Village Council) and Sanguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) elections were held in the provinces of Sulu, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Shariff Kabunsuan all in Muslim autonomous region and also in Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Sur provinces.

“In the entire Sulu province, elections are very peaceful. There were no reports of bloodshed or violence and we can attribute this to the preparation of the authorities and the discipline of the voting public,” Army Maj. Gen. Reuben Rafael, commander of military forces in the province, told the Mindanao Examiner.

Prior to the elections, two homemade bombs exploded separately in Sulu and both attacks targeted the provincial office of the Commission on Elections and the house of the deputy regional poll chief Vidsfar Julie.

There were no casualties in the two attacks.

Elections were also peaceful in the Muslim autonomous region, according to Col. Julieto Ando, spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

He said there were no reports of poll-related violence and that soldiers and policemen guarded the elections to ensure that no incidents will occur.

“It is peaceful also, perhaps because we have really prepared together so hard to ensure peaceful and orderly elections,” Ando said in a separate interview.

Village and youth elections in May had failed because of violence and the presence of gunmen and the failure of poll officers to report to work. (Nickee Butlangan)

Peaceful Polls Assured In Sulu Province

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 14, 2007) - Authorities have assured of a peaceful special elections in the southern Philippine province of Sulu.

Village and youth elections are to be held Saturday in several towns in Sulu and seven other provinces in Mindanao after polls in May failed because of the presence of gunmen and teachers acting as poll officers failed to report.

"We assure the public that authorities are ready in any eventualities. There will be clean and honest elections," Brig. Gen. Ruperto Pabustan, commander of the army Special Forces in Sulu, told the Mindanao Examiner.

The military and police have been tapped to ensure peaceful polls in the province. (Mindanao Examiner Photo and Text/Nickee Butlangan)

Poll Officer's House Bombed In South RP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 13, 2007) – A homemade bomb exploded in front of the house of a regional elections official in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, but the attack had killed no one, police and military said on Thursday.

It said the bombing came just two days ahead of special village and youth elections in Sulu and seven other provinces in Mindanao.

The attack before dawn targeted the house of lawyer Vidzfar Julie in the town of Indanan. No one was killed or injured in the blast that damaged the facade of the house.

No group or individual claimed responsibility for the bombing, but authorities suspect the blast had something to do with special elections on Saturday.

Julie was not in the province at the time of the attack, police said.

But the blast was the second in recent week in the province. A bomb was also detonated December 9 in front of the office of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in Sulu’s Patikul town.

Julie, a former poll supervisor in Sulu, is now the chief of the COMELEC in the Muslim autonomous region.

Elections in May failed in some towns in Sulu because of the presence of gunmen and many teachers tapped as poll officers did not report for work due to threats to their lives.

Others refused to work because of non-payments of their salaries since early this year by the Department of Education in the autonomous region. (Mindanao Examiner)

Police, Military Tighten Security In Shariff Kabunsuan Province

COMELEC officers headed by lawyer Jocelyn De Mesa (2nd from left) reads the COC results during the Provincial Canvassing in ARMM Sanggunian Panlalawigan office, at the back are the representatives of the candidates with their Legal Council and watchers. The Provincial Canvassing held inside the Mindanao State University Maguindanao in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Shariff Kabunsuan Province.

The military tighten their security during the Provincial Canvassing because before the canvassing there is a grenade launcher explosion and strafing incident happened near the area. Another Gubernatorial candidate Tocao Mastura's and supporters denounce the canvassing because MSU Maguindanao is Datu Bimbo Sinsuat his political opponent territory.

A family walks in the isle were one of the tanks park near the Sanggunian Panlalawigan Office were the Provincial canvassing is on going. The military tighten their security during the Provincial Canvassing because before the canvassing there is a grenade launcher explosion and strafing incident happened near the area at 2am in the early morning. (Mindanao Examiner Photos/Mark Navales)

COTABATO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 31 May) – Philippine authorities tightened security in the southern province of Shariff Kabunsuan due to rising tension between supporters of opposing politicians.

Canvassing of votes in the May 14 national and local polls in the province has been disrupted many times by violence.

An explosion on Wednesday in the province sent policemen and soldiers scampering to secure vital government installations.

Army Col. Mario Mendoza, commander of the 603rd Infantry Brigade, said he deployed troops to help local policemen secure the province, one of five under the Muslim autonomous region, from further violence and to allow the canvassing of the Commission on Elections.

Politicians accused each other of fraud and cheating to win the elections, especially in the gubernatorial race.

Regional police commander, Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao, said they have put up road blocks and checkpoints to prevent the entry of illegal weapons that can be used to stir more violence in the province.

“I am really dismayed about the election here in Shariff Kabunsuan because of very obvious and rampant vote-buying during the election.”

“I personally saw ballot boxes brought to the Maguindanao provincial capitol before they bring them to the Mindanao State University where the canvassing is done” one village elder, Datu Kali, told the independent regional newspaper, the Mindanao Examiner.

Thousands of people held a rally on Tuesday to protest allegations by the opposition of massive cheating and fraud in the province.

Provincial elections chief, lawyer Jocelyn de Mesa, said they would continue the canvassing despite the tension in Shariff Aguak. (Becky de Asis, Special to the Mindanao Examiner)

COMELEC's Rene Sarmiento, Magbibitiw Na!

LANAO DEL SUR (Mindanao Examiner / 28 May) – Pumutok kanina ang balitang magbibitiw na umano si Elections Commissioner Rene Sarmiento bilang pinuno ng Task Force Maguindanao, na kung saan ay talamak diumano ang dayaan sa nakaraang halalan.

Sa Maguindanao nagwagi ng landslide ang TEAM Unity sa 12-0 swift na umano’y balot sa karahasan at pananakot.

Hindi pa malinaw ang dahilan ng pagreresign ni Sarmiento, ngunit ayon sa ibang mga impormasyon ay kalusugan ang idinadahilan nito. Biglaan ang naging desisyon ni Sarmiento at ibat-ibang haka-haka ang kumakalat sa Mindanao.

Magbibitiw diumano ito dahil sa hindi masikmura ang matinding dayaan sa Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at posibleng pinagreresign rin dahil hindi umano nagawan ng paraan na maitago ang mga kalokohan sa Maguindanao, Lanao, Basilan at Sulu na kung saan ay namayagpag ang TEAM Unity kontra sa Genuine Opposition senatorial candidates.

Hindi naman makumpirma ang mga balitang ito, ngunit lumutang na ang pangalan ni Elections Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer na posibleng pumalit kay Sarmiento.

Pumutok rin ang balita kasabay ng paglabas ngayon araw sa ABS-CBN ng video footage na nakunan ng grupo ni reporter Ricky Carandang na kung saan ay nahuling bitbit ng mga COMELEC officials ang ilang bundles ng blankong election returns mula Marawi City patungo sa isang hotel sa Iligan City.

Nauna umanong itinanggi ito ni Sarmiento, ngunit dakong huli ay inamin rin matapos na makita ang video footage. Sinabi nitong “safekeeping” lamang ang dahil kung bakit inilipat ang mga ERs.

Nagkaroon pa ng sagutan ang grupo ni Carandang sa isang sigang kasamahan ni Sarmiento ng sila’y komprontahin ng media ukol sa ERs.Halos mabulol naman ang lalaki sa kapapaliwanag at pinag-diskitahan pa ang camera man ni Carandang.

Inulat rin kanina ng ABS-CBN na matapos na mailabas ang nasabing video footage ay pinaghahanap na umano ng mga armadong grupo sina Carandang.

Hindi naman agad makunan ng pahayag si Sarmiento sa Lanao at lumipad na umano ito patungong Maynila kahapon sa kalagitnaan ng eskandalo at dayaan na ibinibintang ng oposisyon sa Malakanyang upang papanaluhin ang ilang mga TEAM Unity bets, partikular ang ika-11 at ika-12 puwesto sa Magic 12.

Itinanggi ng Malakanyang at TEAM Unity ang akusasyon.

Sina failed coup leader Antonio Trillanes at Aquilino “Coco” Pimentel Jr na parehong oposisyon ang nasa dalawang puwesto at kulelat naman sina Jose Miguel Zubiri, Mike Defensor at Ralph Recto ng TEAM Unity. (May ulat sina Mark Navales, Merlyn Manos, Juan Magtanggol at Becky de Asis)

Lanao del Sur After The Special Polls...

LANAO DEL SUR (Mindanao Examiner / 27 May) – Philippine soldiers and policemen on Sunday guarded the counting of votes from special elections marred with violence, fraud and cheating in the province of Lanao del Sur.

Security officials said the counting held in Marawi City was peaceful and that there were no reports of post-elections violence in the province, one of five under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Armed clashes and violence marred Saturday’s polls in Lanao. Three government soldiers guarding the polls were killed and three others, including two civilians, had been injured in separate attacks in the province.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) held special polls in 13 towns in Lanao del Sur where massive fraud and cheating had been reported by an independent elections watchdog, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

“The counting of ballots in Marawi is peaceful. There are no reports of violence,” the head of the regional police force, Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, told the Mindanao Examiner newspaper.

Tension was high before and after elections in the province where gunmen randomly attacked polling places with grenades and rifle fires. Authorities blamed armed supporters of politicians as behind the attacks.

A villager in Marawi City said they heard gunshots during the counting of votes and could not say whether it was connected to the canvassing.

But Goltiao said the shot was fired by a government soldier in the air to control a huge crowd trying to disturb the counting of votes.

“It was just a warning shot to control the unruly crowd, but everything turns out to be alright. We are on top of the situation,” Goltiao said.

Major General Nememias Pajarito, commander of the Philippine Army’s First Infantry Division, said troops were deployed in Lanao del Sur to secure the polls and the counting of votes.

“We are happy to report that the counting day turned out to be peaceful. Military and police forces are on top of the situation. We are in control,” Pajarito said in a separate interview.

Many villagers in Lanao del Sur said they failed to cast their votes Saturday because of the presence of gunmen, who were followers of opposing politicians.

The head of the PPCRV, Tita de Villa, who was in Lanao del Sur on Saturday, said she was a witness to massive cheating and fraud in the province.

She claimed she saw one election inspector hid official ballots inside her bag and that in other polling areas there were two sets of voters’ lists.

“You can’t really vote freely because everybody is at your neck. The climate is impossible for people to vote freely and orderly. From what we see, I think there will be failure of elections again,” De Villa said. (With reports from Mark Navales, Merlyn Manos and Juan Magtanggol)

Special Polls In Mindanao Marred With Fraud, Cheating And Violence

Special Election in Lanao del Sur province in southern Philippines on Saturday, 26 May 2007. The congressional and local elections, covering 13 towns in the Muslim-majority province are held under heavy security to avert possible violence after authorities suspended the 14 May national mid-term polls due to threats of violence from armed gangs and political warlords.

(Mindanao Examiner Photo Service/Mark Navales)

LANAO DEL SUR (Mindanao Examiner / 26 May) – Armed clashes and violence marred Saturday’s special elections in the Muslim autonomous province of Lanao del Sur in southern Philippines, officials said.

Three government soldiers guarding the polls were killed and three others, including two civilians, were injured in separate attacks in the province.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) held special polls in 13 towns in Lanao del Sur where massive fraud and cheating had been reported by an independent elections watchdog, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

Tension was high before and after elections in the province where gunmen randomly attacked polling places with grenades and rifle fires.

There were no reports of arrests, but authorities blamed armed supporters of politicians as behind the attacks.

Fighting between policemen and armed gangs erupted in the towns of Kapay, Butig and Pualas and that an undetermined number of election inspectors were reported missing.

It was unknown whether they had been abducted or hiding for fear they would be coerced into siding with politicians.

Many villagers said they failed to cast their votes because of the presence of gunmen, who were followers of opposing politicians.

The military said unidentified gunmen attacked the municipal hall of Masiu.

“They fired two rounds of mortar rockets. There were no reports of casualties,” military spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro told the independent regional newspaper, the Mindanao Examiner.

Other reports said there were attempts by armed men to seized ballot boxes in Lanao del Sur. Poll watchers of opposing politicians also engaged in street brawls.

But COMELEC Commissioner Rene Sarmiento insisted the polls were peaceful. “It is generally peaceful,” he said.

But the police said it recorded more than a dozen rocket and grenade attacks in Lanao del Sur during special elections.

On Friday, one soldier was also killed and two civilians had been wounded in separate gun attacks in the towns of Tugaya and Pualas towns.

The head of the PPCRV, Tita de Villa, who was monitoring the polls in Lanao del Sur, said she was a witness to massive cheating and fraud in the province.

She claimed she saw one election inspector hid official ballots inside her bag and that in other polling areas there were two sets of voters’ lists.

“You can’t really vote freely because everybody is at your neck. The climate is impossible for people to vote freely and orderly. From what we see, I think there will be failure of elections again,” De Villa said.

Police forces also guarded the towns of Butig and Pualas and other areas where Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels are actively operating. Authorities fear the rebels may side with politicians allied with the MILF.

But the MILF said security forces should keep a close watch on private armies and goons of politicians who were behind attempts to sabotage the elections. The MILF said it does not take part in any Filipino elections.

“The MILF has a strict policy about Philippine elections. We do not take part in any elections or in partisan politics and our members have strict orders to stay inside their camps,” rebel spokesman Eid Kabalu told the Mindanao Examiner in a separate interview.

Manila is currently negotiating peace with the MILF, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, since 2001. (With reports from Mark Navales, Becky de Asis, Merlyn Manos and Juan Magtanggol)