The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has announced that voting in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, will begin this afternoon following earlier disruptions caused by tensions in the area.
COMELEC Spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco told DZRH in an exclusive interview on Monday that the possibility of declaring a failure of elections has been ruled out in light of the recent incident.
In an earlier report by DZRH provincial correspondent Jun Dimacutac, the voting process was delayed as a large crowd blocked the transport of Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) and other vital election paraphernalia.
To ease the tension, the Philippine Marines intervened, leading to a peaceful dispersal of the crowd.
"Given na po na naandon na ang mga Electoral Board (EB), sinisimulan na po nila ang proseso so kami po ay naniniwalang wala na po sa equation ang failure of elections," said Laudiangco.
"Tuloy na po ang ating botohan. The most po kung sakali man – kailangan na lang po nating mag-extend ng voting hours, masigurong makaboto ang ating mga kababayan dyan," he added.
Given the delayed opening of polls due to the incident, Laudiangco said COMELEC is currently reviewing whether voting hours should be extended in the area.
Laudiangco explained that extending voting hours is within COMELEC’s jurisdiction, based on the assessment of local election officials.
He noted that the move would depend on key considerations, including the number of voters who have yet to cast their votes.
"Pagdating po ba ng alas-syete ng gabi, gaano katas na ang porsyento ng nakaboto? Doon ba sa 30-meter radius ay mayroon pang nakapila? Baka naman po mataas na ang porsyento ng bumoto at wala nang katao-tao at wala nang nakapila, ay baka po sa pagkakataoon ‘yon ay hindi na kinakailangan," Laudiangco stated.
"Ngunit kung makikita po natin at maa-assess ng ating Local Officers po doon na kinakailangan pa dahil marami pa ang hindi nakakaboto, nasa kapangyarihan naman po ng COMELEC na mag-extend po ng voting hours," he added.
In closing, the COMELEC official underscored that voting is a right long fought for by our forebears, and urged citizens to make the most of this chance to choose the right leaders for the country.
