Delay in Marinduque proclamations for congressman and governor; Failure of elections in 11 towns including Sta. Cruz

Canvassing at the provincial capitol by the PBOC

People are asking why there has been no proclamation for the positions of governor and Marinduque representative to Congress when the top contenders for these positions are enjoying a very wide margin each.

It will be recalled that no voting occurred in Brgy, Alobo in Sta. Cruz on May 9, as ballots received there for 1 clustered precinct with 621 registered voters, were intended for Brgy, Malalag, Maitum, Sarangani Province in Mindanao.

A dispatch by MindaNews on election day validated the report stating that "voting was hampered at a clustered precinct at the Malalag Elementary School in Maitum, Sarangani Province due to erroneous ballots" and that "poll personnel discovered at the opening of the precint at 6 a.m. that the delivered ballots were for a precinct in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque province."

Comelec en banc has today ordered the suspension of proclaiming the winning candidates in places where failure of elections has been declared "if the special elections will affect the results".

Sta. Cruz, Marinduque is one of the affected areas.

Google photo of Sta. Cruz

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.

While the special elections to be held in Brgy. Alobo "not later than 30 days" will not affect the results for the positions of governor and representative for the lone district of Marinduque in this case, no proclamation has been made so far for the said positions.

  

Based on partial and unofficial results of Comelec-GMA Mirror Server incumbent governor Carmencita O. Reyes (LP) is leading by a wide margin against her closest opponent, Vicky Lao-Lim (IND) of Gasan. For congressman, incumbent representative Lord Allan Velasco (NUP) is leading by nearly 11,000 votes against LP bet Regina O. Reyes (LP).

For the position of mayor of Sta. Cruz town, Marisa Red (LP) is leading by 743 votes against closest rival Doc Tonton Uy (KBL).

Based on information, also part of the problem is the failure in certain towns to electronically transmit official election results to the provincial board of canvassers (PBOC) due to technical problems.

Comelec declares failure of elections in 11 towns

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said it has declared failure of elections in 11 towns in eight provinces across Visayas and Mindanao.

In a resolution, the poll body's en banc ordered the conduct of elections in identified barangays on May 14, Saturday.

Military and police forces were ordered to "intensify efforts to ensure the holding of orderly and peaceful" polls.

Failure of elections affected 52 clustered precincts with a total of 17,657 voters.

Areas affected are as follows:

Barangay Gabi, Cordova, Cebu — 1 clustered precinct, 436 of 772 registered voters

Maitum, Sarangani — 1 clustered precinct, 677 registered voters

Sta. Cruz, Marinduque — 1 clustered precinct, 621 registered voters

Barangay Mabuyong, Anini-y, Antique — 1 clustered precinct, 691 registered voters

Barangay Insubuan, San Remigio, Antique — 1 clustered precinct, 158 voters

Barangay Roxas, Lope de Vega, Northern Samar — 1 clustered precinct, 169 registered voters

Nagpapacao, Matuguinao, Western Samar — 1 clustered precinct, 285 registered voters

Binidayan, Lanao del Sur — all 26 clustered precincts, 7,845 registered voters

Pata, Sulu — 6 clustered precincts, 1,670 registered voters

Panglima Estino, Sulu — 10 clustered precincts, 4,058 registered voters

Tamparan, Lanao del Sur — 3 clustered precincts, 1,047 registered voters

The en banc has ordered the suspension of proclaiming the winning candidates if the special elections will affect the results.

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, that 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, Saranggani; 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. — ALG/APG, GMA News