Comelec-7 says no major issues encountered in Region 7 polls

Local

DESPITE reports of misdelivered ballots in certain parts of Cebu and Bohol, the Commission on Elections-Central Visayas (Comelec 7) assured that voting in the region proceeded without major disruptions.

Comelec-7 regional director Francisco Pobe Jr. confirmed that only minor logistical issues arose, including the misdelivery of 183 ballots across seven areas.

However, these issues were swiftly resolved.

Pobe stated that these incidents did not affect the timely 7 a.m. opening of voting precincts.

The misdeliveries included 19 ballots intended for Balamban, which were sent to Bantayan in Bantayan Island; 20 meant for Argao that ended up in Aloguinsan; 102 for Barangay Lambason in San Remigio, which went to Barangay Tambongon in the same municipality.

Additionally, 42 ballots for Pardo, Cebu City, delivered to Candijay, Bohol; and 44 ballots for Mandaue City precincts that were missing second pages.

Pobe said they worked closely with local election officers to ensure ballot security and quickly reroute the misdelivered ballots.

The Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard were tapped to ensure timely delivery to remote locations, including Bantayan Island and Balamban.

Pobe explained that the incidents involved only a small number of ballots and would not affect the closing of the polls.

According to Pobe, clustered precincts rarely achieve 100 percent voter turnout, and the affected number of ballots was unlikely to influence the results.

By 1 p.m., Pobe estimated that 50 to 60 percent of voters in Central Visayas had already cast their ballots.

Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, chief of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO) 7, inspected polling centers in Cebu City and confirmed there were no election-related violent incidents in the region.

The police deployed 9,170 personnel to over 2,000 polling sites across Central Visayas.

Meanwhile, Col. Arvie Paraon-Bueno, spokesperson for Maranan, said 10 individuals were arrested for violating the election gun ban. One of the arrests stemmed from a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operation in Calape, Bohol.

Two liquor ban violations were also reported in Cebu on May 11.

In Mambaling, Cebu City, police caught several individuals drinking in public at 1 a.m., while another violator in Minglanilla was arrested at 8 p.m. for both liquor ban violation and causing alarm and scandal.

Paraon-Bueno said the suspects may face penalties of six years and one day in prison if convicted.(MyTVCebu)