Comelec urged to declare poll failure in 2 Abra towns

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) conducts today a hearing on the petition to declare a failure of the May 10 polls in two towns in Abra filed by Abra Rep. Cecilia Seares Luna.

Luna has urged the Comelec to hold special elections in the municipalities of Danglas and La Paz, claiming that last month’s polls had failed because of “violence and illegal acts” allegedly perpetrated by the camp of Maria Jocelyn Valera Bernos, her rival in the congressional race.

In a statement, Luna said that many voters in the two towns were not able to cast their vote so they were disenfranchised, thus, warranting the conduct of special polls.

She noted that among the violent acts committed during the election were the strafing of a vehicle while passing through Barangay Canan in La Paz town, the abduction and detention of her poll watchers and coercion and harassment of teachers who served as Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) preventing them from carrying out their poll duties in the two towns.

Luna alleged there were incidents when voters were dragged in voting precincts “at gunpoint or threats of physical harm” were forced to vote for Bernos.

She said that under threat and intimidation, the BEIs have fed “pre-shaded ballots” and put indelible ink to voters even before the start of the voting hours.