3 ARMM election officers quit, not missing – PPCRV

MANILA, Philippines - The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) yesterday clarified that the three election officers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), who were earlier reported to be missing, actually quit.

The three teachers from Sultan Sa Barongis, Datu Odin and Sinsuat towns reportedly quit because their district supervisor was killed last Sunday, according to the PPCRV.

The military reportedly took over the elections in the area.

The PPCRV also reported that confusion marred elections in Olongapo City, Zambales as members of the board of election inspectors (BEI) argued with its volunteers on the voting process for detainees.

PPCRV media and communication director Ana de Villa-Singson said, “There is a major issue in Olongapo because the BEI is trying to bring out the ballots and bring them to the detainees for voting.”

A heated argument between the two groups ensued, prompting the PPCRV head office to seek clarification from Commission on Elections Commissioner Christian Robert Lim.

“We called Commissioner Lim and there is no special resolution that the detainees are supposed to vote inside the poll area,” Singson said.

Meanwhile, balloting in Central Luzon went smoothly yesterday, except for some glitches in precinct count optical scan machines in a number of polling precincts. – Evelyn Macairan, Ric Sapnu