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By Jonathan M. Hicap, Reporter
Six classrooms were torched at
Tanauan Elementary School in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, prompting the
Department of Education (DepEd) to hold voting in other classrooms
in Monday’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
DepEd officials said the incident
happened between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. and was reported by District
Supervisor Elpidio Santos to Dioscorides Lusung, the schools
division superintendent of Nueva Ecija.
Lusung, in consultation with the
DepEd Election Task Force Operation Center whose co-chairman is
Undersecretary Franklin Sunga, and the Commission on Elections,
relocated the poll precincts to other rooms in buildings within the
school compound.
Since no election paraphernalia
were damaged, the elementary school opened its doors to voters as
scheduled.
Regular classes there will resume
today on double shifts as an emergency measure, the DepEd said.
Police are still investigating
the incident.
It is yet to be determined
whether the fire was the result of faulty electrical wiring or a
deliberate attempt to disturb the elections.
“We, at the Election Task
Force, are prepared for anything,” Sunga said. “We will use the
resources at our disposal to ensure that the elections push through
in a calm and an orderly manner.”
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