The Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) in the municipality of Maluso in Basilan will resume on Tuesday.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia announced this on Monday evening, as the reprinted official ballots totaling to 16,563 of 36 poling places have already arrived in Cotabato City.
“Ballots for Maluso have arrived in Zamboanga. No more airlift. They will be transported by the Philippine Navy and will arrive tonight and tomorrow (Tuesday) morning to distribute to our EB members,” he said in a press conference.
“More or less 16,000 votes there. It is possible that it will affect the results of the parties or district representatives in that part of the ballot,” he added.
The poll body earlier ordered the reprinting of the official ballots as they have been compromised or found to be pre-shaded.
Garcia noted that the members of the commission will go to Maluso to monitor the conduct of the election there.
The voting period will also be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting will also be implemented where members of the vulnerable sector will be able to cast their votes from 5 am to 7 am. Members of the said sector may also join regular voters during regular voting hours.
Garcia explained that Tuesday’s polls is not a special polls, but a continuation of the Sept 14 elections.
“It is not a special election, it is not a postponed election, but a continuation of the election. It is clear that we have a resolution on that matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, the casting of votes in the BARMM is proceeding generally peacefully and orderly, with 1,173 of the 1,186 monitored voting centers, or 98.90 percent, currently conducting the voting process, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
As of 4 p.m. Monday, only 13 of the 1,186 monitored voting centers have yet to begin the casting of votes, all of which are located in Basilan.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police personnel remain deployed across the six parliamentary areas to provide security and police assistance while closely monitoring developments as voting continues.
The PNP is maintaining close coordination with the Comelec, local authorities, and other partner agencies to ensure that voters, teachers and election personnel, and other stakeholders can carry out their respective duties in a safe and orderly environment.
“We are not only securing the voting centers; we are also making sure that our personnel remain responsive to the needs on the ground throughout the voting period. Our duty is to help preserve a peaceful environment where every voter can exercise their right to vote without unnecessary concern or disruption,” he said in a statement.
The PNP continues to monitor all areas and is prepared to provide necessary police assistance as voting progresses, particularly in areas where the process has yet to begin.
He added that police units will remain on heightened vigilance through the completion of voting and the succeeding election-related activities.
The election security operations are being carried out under the PNP’s Focused Agenda and Enhanced Managing Police Operations, in support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to a peaceful and orderly electoral process. (with report from Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)