MANILA, Philippines - Some 150 policemen who acted as special board of election tellers were trained to augment the more than 700 SBETs deployed in Maguindanao province for the barangay polls, a police official said on Monday.
Police Senior Superintendent Rodelio Jocson, Maguinano provincial police director, said the additional SBETs were trained by election personnel in the province after teachers refused to to poll duty for security reasons.
In a phone-patch interview at the Secure and Fair Elections 2013 Alpha briefing, Jocson said they were still waiting for the reports from his ground commanders regarding the election related incidents in Maguindanao.
Jocson also reported that authorities apprehended a fugitive while he was on his way to cast his vote in Datu Piang town.
"No vote buying na narecord dito pero may huli tayong wanted person. Inaabangan natin ito habang bumubut mga tao. May nakapag tip," he said.
He, however, did not elaborate on the incident.
Meanwhile, Jocson said the elections in Buldon town in Maguindanao were not disrupted after a four-classroom building was torched.
"Itinuloy na rin naman yung botohan kasi may mga classroom dun na di nila nasunog," Jocson said.