Special polls in Basilan, Lanao, Bulacan to push through in November

MANILA, Philippines - After several hitches, the special polls in some places in Basilan, Lanao del Sur and Bulacan will take place on Nov. 13, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

According to Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, the poll body had decided to hold the special elections on Nov. 13 as they would need at least eight weeks to prepare.

“We think that would be the best time. We’ll have enough time to prepare from the preparation of contracts to delivery of the election paraphernalia and other supplies,” he said.

The special elections involve congressional seat in Bulacan, the position of provincial board members of Basilan and some municipal posts in Lanao del Sur.

The May 10 elections in Basilan and Lanao del Sur were declared a failure due to poll-related violence, while the election in Malolos was postponed after the Supreme Court dissolved the congressional district for Malolos, Bulacan and reverted it to the first district.

This is the fourth change of schedule of the special elections in Bulacan since it was suspended.

Larrazabal said that those who filed for congressman in the May 10 elections are already considered candidates for the Nov. 13 special polls.

But he added that those who are no longer interested in running for the congressional seat in the first district of Bulacan must submit a manifestation to the Comelec.

Larrazabal also expressed confidence that the special elections in the two provinces of Mindanao would be peaceful and orderly as the military and police forces could focus on them.

The Comelec will use the automated election system in the special polls so it is procuring some 920 units of precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines at a cost of P130 million, including delivery.

The poll body is confident that it can recoup such amount as the PCOS machines will be rented out to those who have filed election protest cases. – Dino Balabo