Comelec acts on poll cases in M’guindanao

COTABATO CITY — The Commission on Elections (Co-melec) has annulled the multiple proclamations by local election officers of "mayors-elect" in three Maguindanao towns, paving the way for the review of the electoral cases.

Lawyer Clarita Callar, Comelec regional director, said their central office ordered the other day a recanvassing of election returns in South Upi town to determine who among the three mayoral candidates there really won.

South Upi’s election officer separately proclaimed re-electionist Mayor Israel Sinsuat and his rival, Antonio Gunsi, as both winners in the local elections, thus triggering the impasse.

Sinsuat ranked only third in the tally of votes for mayor of the local chapter of the National Movement for Free Elections.

Callar said the Comelec central office in Manila will also evaluate the proclamations of two "mayors-elect" in both Talitay and Matanog towns.

"Let us just wait and see what comes next. I’m praying that all of these controversies will soon be over," she said.

In a statement, the provincial peace and order council said Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan has tapped emissaries to convince the rival political camps in South Upi, Talitay and Matanog towns to abide by the Comelec’s resolution of the electoral disputes.