THE Commission on Elections (Comelec), which stands as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), approved the holding of special election after declaring a failure of elections in 14 barangays in the municipalities of Tubaran, Binidayan, and Butig in Lanao del Sur.
In its three-page resolution, the poll body pointed out that they needed to declare a failure of elections since the results of local voting may be affected due to the number of registered voters who needed to vote.
Included as reason in declaring a failure of elections are ballot snatching and the failure of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to recover it, and also the stabbing of a police officer who tried to protect the vote counting machines (VCMs) in the town of Butig.
The violence in the town of Binidayan resulted in the destruction of the VCM and official ballots, and the violence, threats and intimidation in the town Tubaran that also resulted in a failure of elections.
The holding of special elections is estimated to be held on May 15, or depending on the date to be declared by the Comelec en banc, in Barangay Ragayan, Butig and Barangay Pindolonan in Binidayan including some barangays in Tubaran.
Personnel from the Philippine National Police were tasked to sit as Special Board of Election Inspectors, particularly those coming from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.