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ZAMBOANGA CITY—The Philippine National Police (PNP) is
finalizing the security plan to be implemented in the
August 11 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM).
ARMM
police director Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao said his forces
will tightly secure the counting areas, especially that
it would be the first time that an automated elections
will be held in the country.
The
Commission on Elections (Comelec) is using the direct
recording electronic (DRE) system in Maguindanao, while
the optical mark reader (OMR) technology will be used in
the other five ARMM provinces, namely, Basilan, Lanao
del Sur, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
The DRE
system uses touch-screen or touch-pad technology and is
fully automated from the voting to counting and final
transmission of results to the canvassing centers at the
provincial and regional levels.
On the
other hand, the OMR Technology requires voters to fill
out a paper ballot which is scanned by
specially-designed machines.
“It is
necessary to secure the machines to avoid failure of
elections,” Goltiao said.
Goltiao
said policemen will also be deployed in polling
precincts in coordination with the military to ensure
the peaceful and orderly conduct of the ARMM election.
At least
1.4 million registered voters in ARMM will troop to the
polling precincts on August 11 to elect new set of
officials to govern the region until 2011.
They
will elect a regional governor, vice-governor and
members of the 24-seat unicameral Regional Legislative
Assembly (RLA).
Initially, Goltiao disclosed that his forces have
identified the areas where armed groups like the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF) and Abu Sayyaf bandits thrive as
election areas of concern.
“Their
areas of influence are considered election areas of
concern,” Goltiao added.
However,
he foresees a peaceful and orderly conduct of election
citing the ARMM polls is not as hotly contested as the
local and national elections.
“They
(politicians and supporters) use force and arms (in
local election),” he added.
Goltiao
said he would not recommend for policemen to serve as
Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) so they would have
enough personnel to render security duties on the day of
the election.
Goltiao
said the positions of BEIs should be handled by teachers
who are selected to serve at the polling precincts.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Election (Comelec) central
office has replaced the head of the ARMM election
office.
ARMM
assistant election supervisor Vidzfar Juli disclosed
that autonomous region election supervisor Rey Sumalipao
has been transferred to the central office for a new
assignment.
Juli
said Sumalipao was replaced by Region VI Comelec
regional director Dennis Ausan effective June 13.
He said
Sumalipao was transferred to the central officer where
he will serve as the assistant project manager for the
August 11 automated elections in ARMM.
Juli
said he and the other election officers in ARMM have
requested to retain Sumalipao citing the latter’s
transfer would affect the preparations for the conduct
of the elections. |
