PPCRV: Lanao Norte polls generally peaceful

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/11 May) – The conduct of elections in Lanao del Norte can be considered generally peaceful despite delay in the transmission of results from 11 hinterland towns, Fr.Rey Pati-an, provincial head of the Pastoral Parish Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said.

Pati-an gave credit to the voters for reportedly behaving well.

He also attributed the peaceful election to the separation of Iligan City as a lone district, saying politicians in Lanao Norte disdain being ruled by officials coming from the city.

He said there were hitches, however, like the threats against the Board of Election Inspectors in Kapatagan town, the attempted use of flying voters in Tangkal town and the delay in the canvassing of results. [More at MindaNews]

Also posted at Vera Files.

PPCRV fields 1,000 monitors in Lanao Norte

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte (MindaNews)– At least 1,000 church-based volunteers have been fielded by the provincial Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in the coastal municipalities of Lanao del Norte to observe and document precinct-based cases in the first-ever conduct of automated national polls.

Fr. Rey Pati-an, head of the provincial Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting in Lanao del Norte, said that these trained volunteers will be roaming around precincts in coastal communities only as they had difficulties to organize persons who can be fielded in hinterland communities.

Pati-an related that so far there are no incidents reported from municipal-based councils that can be considered life-threatening except for unverified reports about flying voters brought to the hinterlands that were barred by authorities and the delay of the distribution of PCOS flash cards.

“If the poll will prove that these gadgets will malfunction, the watchers are encouraged to report cases to board of election inspectors for expedient action,” he said.

Acknowledging limitations, “volunteers are vulnerable to threats and intimidations if they are assigned in areas where they have no particular knowledge of the terrain and if they aren’t equipped to undergo electoral challenges in high-risk situation,” he said.

Besides, I am not sure if the total gun ban policy is fully enforced specially in remote barangays,” he commented. [More at MindaNews]