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ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Commission on Elections (Comelec)
is set to hold special elections today in two towns of Basilan
province, said James Jimenez, Comelec information officer.
The special elections will be in
some barangays of Sumisip town and in the newly created Akbar
municipality.
The Comelec has declared failure
of elections in some areas of Sumisip and Akbar towns on May 14
since no voting took place because of violent incidents that day.
Gunmen, believed to be supporters
of contending candidates, engaged in a firefight forcing voters to
flee to safety and a school was burned down in one of the barangays
in Sumisip hours before the opening of polling precincts on May 14.
In Akbar, voters refused to vote
for fear of their safety after gunmen believed to be allied with
politicians attacked a polling precinct while a mayoralty candidate
and his supporters were inside casting their votes.
Basilan police director Senior
Supt. Salik Macapantar said he has readied ample number of police
officers to secure the conduct of the special elections in the two
towns.
Macapantar said his personnel
would be backed by troops from the 1st Marine Brigade, headed by
Col. Ramiro Alivio. PNA
He said there is a possibility
that some of his personnel will serve as Board of Election
Inspectors (BEIs) in Akbar after some teachers have reportedly
refused to serve on Wednesday special elections.
The result of the special
election is crucial because it will be the deciding factor as to who
will become the mayors of the two towns and the governor of Basilan.
--PNA
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