AFP says poll death toll is 87

The death toll from last Monday’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections rose to 87 yesterday, but President Arroyo said she was "satisfied" with the poll’s outcome "and the way it was conducted."

In a radio address, the President thanked Filipinos for "our generally peaceful elections" and said authorities were "satisfied" with the way the polls turned out.

The election for some 671,000 positions in almost 42,000 barangays "registered a total of 183 incidents, causing the death of 87 people and injury to 45 others," said Armed Forces vice chief Lt. Gen. Gregorio Camiling, head of a task force tracking election violence.

The violence, Camiling said, did not even stop after the polls closed on Monday afternoon, with two ambushes, a shooting and one arson reported, leaving one civilian injured.

In Pandami, Sulu, Jawikal Palawi, the leading candidate for chairman of Barangay Sibaud, was also shot dead on Monday along with two companions, identified as Sulbu Palawi and Hassan Pawis.

The authorities suspect Palawi’s rival Jun Bala was responsible but Bala is already on the run, according to Col. Romeo Tolentino of the Sulu-based 103rd Army Brigade.

In San Marcelino, Zambales, a candidate for kagawad (councilman) of Barangay Buhawin was gunned down by five armed men believed to be members of the communist New People’s Army.

Reports reaching Camp Olivas in Pampanga identified the fatality as Conrado Nieto, 47, who was gunned down by the suspects armed with a caliber .45 pistol and an M-16 rifle while he was speaking with his daughter in front of their home.

The military also deployed troops and armored vehicles in Sulu yesterday to quell post-election fighting that left three people dead in Indanan, Sulu.

Hundreds of residents have fled the fighting but it was not clear if there were any casualties.

While Tolentino did not reveal the names of rival clans that are now locked in battle in Indanan, he said the fighting involved former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels loyal to Nur Misuari, former governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao.

As fighting flared up in Sulu, Mrs. Arroyo challenged newly elected barangay officials to help the government deliver basic services and perform their jobs as "the first face of the government in our society."

"I congratulate all who won. I call upon them to perform their jobs accordingly for the welfare of our countrymen because the baranagy is the first face of government in our society," the President said.

"Our barangay officials should help strengthen our republic. How will our republic become stronger if our officials are not effective in delivering basic services," she said.

The President made these exhortations yesterday over dzRH radio where she thanked the Filipino people for helping ensure the conduct of a "generally peaceful" election.

"I am thankful that our elections have been generally peaceful and some of our officials were happy at the results (and) how these were conducted. I hope it will also be peaceful in areas where elections were postponed," she said.

Meanwhile, local election officials in northern Metro Manila where the polls were suspended asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to hold the elections on July 21 for Malabon City and on July 20 For Navotas and Valenzuela City.

Malabon City Comelec chief Armando Mallorca said voters in flood-stricken Barangays Maysilo, Dampalit, Tinajeros, Niugan, Catmon, Panghuio, Bayan-bayanan, Longos, Potrero and Santulan want the elections to be held on July 21.

In Navotas, Comelec officer Villamor Igne said he has recommended that the postponed elections in Barangays Tangos, Bangkulasi, Tanza, Daanghari, North Bay Blvd. North, North Bay Blvd. South, San Rafael Village and San Roque be held on July 20.

Valenzuela City Comelec chief Adriano Abesamis also recommended July 20 as election date for Barangays Arkong Bato, Balangkas, Poblacion Polo, Bisig, Coloong, Rincon, Dalandanan, Isla, Mabolo, Wawang Pulo, Palasan, P. Villa, Pasolo, Tagalag, Veinte Reales and Malanday.

Also yesterday, Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos said the poll body would submit next week a proposal to the House of Representatives to conduct a general registration of voters to cleanse the voters’ list ahead of the 2004 presidential and congressional elections.

Abalos revealed that at least 1,000 candidates were disqualified for the barangay elections because their names could not be found in the voters’ list. - With Ric Sapnu, Marichu Villanueva, Jerry Botial, Sandy Araneta and wire services