Lanao Sur special elections peaceful

Lanao del Sur , Philippines  – The conduct of the special elections held in the seven towns here the other day was generally peaceful, according to government authorities.

Josslyn Demesa, provincial election supervisor said that the election was generally peaceful even if there were incidents of harassment and violations of election laws in some clustered precincts.

“In the town of Lumba Bayabao, several flying voters and underaged voters were prevented by authorities from voting,” said Jamael Maruhom, provincial chairman of “Bantay Balota,” which is affiliated to a presidential candidate (Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. III). A group of unidentified armed men using high powered grenade launchers and firearms started firing from a distance to harass voters in Cagalawan Elementary School but were driven away by soldiers and policemen, Maruhom said.

In the town of Sultan Dumalondong, similar incidents of harassment and firing of firearms were prevented by the Philippine Army and policemen and confiscation of handguns were made.

In the town of Masiu, fistfights happened among supporters of rival candidates but were pacified by soldiers and policemen. There were no reports of casualties or people hurt in the harassment incidents and firing of firearms, the police said.

Police Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag of the Philippine National Police, regional director for the ARMM, said that the special election in the province of Lanao del Sur and in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Minda­nao were generally peaceful.