Comelec reports 75% voter turnout in Negros Occ

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — There was a 75-precent voter turnout of the 1.6 million registered voters in Negros Occidental, including in this capital city, according to provincial elections supervisor Jessie Suarez.

Suarez said the barangay elections in Negros Occidental "was generally peaceful despite some minor and isolated cases."

Two persons were killed in Brgy Poblacion in Toboso town on election day.

For his part, Col. Jon Aying, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, said the military troopers are now still on heightened alert, though, he emphasized that there was no reported intimidation of voters.

The Army deployed 3,000 troopers, while the PNP deployed more than 1,500 policemen across Negros Occidental on election day.

There were no sightings of private armed groups or rebel forces, he said, although there were 127 barangays which were identified by the military and the police as "areas of concern," said Aying.

Suarez also announced that election offense charges will be filed by the Comelec against violators, both candidates and non-candidates alike, in Negros Occidental.

The Comelec-provincial office will receive complaints and gather evidences against violators and will forward these to the Comelec Law Department for proper action, he said.

Suarez told The Freeman that his office has received numerous complaints regarding premature campaigning, but he pointed out that they will deal with the election complaints later, after their election duties had settled.

Several complaints on flying voters were also filed in their office, he said. "We will collate all the needed documents and affidavits for a case buildup," he said, adding that they will file the cases after the proclamation of winners. — (FREEMAN)