Residents in Sultan Kudarat cast their votes for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite at the Simuay Junction Crossing Elementary School, January 21, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
DAVAO — The Commission on Elections in Maguindanao del Sur said on Sunday that it is fully prepared for election day of the first BARMM Parliamentary Elections.
Atty. Allan Kadon, provincial election director, said the final testing and sealing of all automated counting machines (ACMs) across Maguindanao del Sur were successfully completed.
He said 350 special electoral boards from the Philippine National Police (PNP) were placed on standby in the province in case teachers back out or are absent during Monday’s polls.
In the town of South Upi, 39 special electoral boards were requested not because of security concerns, but due to a lack of teachers, according to Kadon.
“Naka-prepare na tayo lahat. Na-prepare na natin yung security preparations. Lahat ng ng security partners natin ready na, AFP, PNP, pati mga voting centers natin, ready na. Electoral boards, ready na,” he told ABS-CBN News.
ACMs tested, sealed in Sultan Kudarat ahead of BARMM polls
Police and military personnel were also deployed in various parts of the province, as all 24 towns are classified as areas of concern, with three under the red category: Shariff Aguak, Datu Piang, and Shariff Saydona Mustapha.
A total of 1,800 PNP personnel were deployed across Maguindanao del Sur, not including the augmented PNP personnel from various police regional offices in Mindanao.
Kadon also urged residents of Maguindanao del Sur to exercise their right to vote in the historic BARMM Parliamentary Elections.
Official ballots will be transported from the municipal offices to the voting centers early Monday morning. Early voting for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and members of priority sectors will be held from 5 to 7 a.m.
“We are really praying na sana since historic elections ito, mananatiling peaceful yung election. Lahat ng mga tao na dapat makapagboto sila na walang humaharang sa kanila. Yun yung panalangin natin na sana tahimik ang eleksyon,” he said.
“Agahan niyo ang pagpunta sa mga voting centers bukas para hindi kayo mahirapan lalong-lalo na medyo tag-ulan ngayong panahon. Para makaiwas sa mahabang pila, agahan na lang nila. Rest assured lahat ng security arrangements nagawa na namin. So magiging safe po yung daan niyo papunta sa voting centers,” he added.
According to authorities, there have been no election-related incidents reported in Maguindanao del Sur in the past few days.
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