Missing names hound Davao City balloting

DAVAO CITY — Hundreds of registered voters in this southern city found themselves disenfranchised yesterday after finding their names missing in their polling precincts.

However, the number of disenfranchised voters was estimated at slightly over 1,000 compared to the over 600,000 total registered voters here.

Similar cases of disenfranchisement were also reported in other areas in Southern Mindanao although they were immediately resolved by local election officers.

In preparation for yesterday’s polls, the regional police command beefed up security in Monkayo, Compostela Valley, tagged as an "area of concern" due to the heated rivalry between the mayoralty candidates in the town.

At least two battalions of soldiers were deployed in Monkayo to reinforce the local police.

The Comelec issued Resolution No. 6802 imposing a 10 p.m. curfew for Monkayo residents starting Saturday night, except for members of the board of election inspectors and those involved in the electoral exercise.

Meanwhile, election-related violent incidents reported in the region included the strafing before dawn yesterday of a barangay hall in Mankilam, Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

The incident reportedly involved elements of the Tagum City-based Task Force Davao Norte and the group of Barangay Mankilam head Antonio Rio.

Rio alleged that a V150 armored car and a government vehicle arrived at the barangay hall at about 1:30 a.m. yesterday and then fired shots.

No one was reported injured. Both sides have different versions of what transpired.