Comelec: Voting at Abra school that caught fire to proceed 'at all costs' on May 12 | ABS-CBN
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Comelec: Voting at Abra school that caught fire to proceed 'at all costs' on May 12
A voting center at Dangdangla Elementary School in Bangued town in Abra catches fire early Wednesday. Photo from Comelec
A voting center at Dangdangla Elementary School in Bangued town in Abra catches fire early Wednesday. Photo from ComelecMANILA — The Commission on Elections vowed Thursday that voting will push through on May 12 at a school in Abra that caught fire on Wednesday, assuring residents of peace and order on election day.
MANILA — The Commission on Elections vowed Thursday that voting will push through on May 12 at a school in Abra that caught fire on Wednesday, assuring residents of peace and order on election day.
The fire ravaged nearly 70 percent of the voting center at Dangdangla Elementary School in Bangued town early Wednesday, Comelec chairman George Garcia earlier said, noting on ANC that no election paraphernalia was damaged by the flames.
The fire ravaged nearly 70 percent of the voting center at Dangdangla Elementary School in Bangued town early Wednesday, Comelec chairman George Garcia earlier said, noting on ANC that no election paraphernalia was damaged by the flames.
The blaze at the polling center happened less than a week before hundreds of registered voters were set to cast their ballots there on Monday and followed a string of election-related gun violence in Abra.
The blaze at the polling center happened less than a week before hundreds of registered voters were set to cast their ballots there on Monday and followed a string of election-related gun violence in Abra.
"Yesterday I instructed our local election officer that we will proceed with the voting in the place, in the area where the fire took place," Garcia said, noting that moving the voting center elsewhere might suggest fear and discourage voters.
"Yesterday I instructed our local election officer that we will proceed with the voting in the place, in the area where the fire took place," Garcia said, noting that moving the voting center elsewhere might suggest fear and discourage voters.
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There are about 188,957 total registered voters in Abra. Out of the total, 35,227 are registered voters in Bangued, according to Comelec data.
There are about 188,957 total registered voters in Abra. Out of the total, 35,227 are registered voters in Bangued, according to Comelec data.
While election officials in Bangued are "upbeat" and ready for Monday's polls despite the setback, Garcia said they remained cautious and vowed there would be no failure or resetting of the elections in the area.
While election officials in Bangued are "upbeat" and ready for Monday's polls despite the setback, Garcia said they remained cautious and vowed there would be no failure or resetting of the elections in the area.
He said that the election paraphernalia were delivered to the school on Wednesday afternoon "after everything was cleared."
He said that the election paraphernalia were delivered to the school on Wednesday afternoon "after everything was cleared."
Garcia assured voters that the Comelec will keep the peace and order in Bangued "intact" by mobilizing a group of policemen to monitor and supervise the conduct of the elections in the entire province of Abra.
Garcia assured voters that the Comelec will keep the peace and order in Bangued "intact" by mobilizing a group of policemen to monitor and supervise the conduct of the elections in the entire province of Abra.
Danilo Arao, convenor of election monitor Kontra Daya, told the 68 million voters in this year's midterm elections to be vigilant at their polling precincts on May 12 and urged them to record and inform local authorities of suspicious activities.
Danilo Arao, convenor of election monitor Kontra Daya, told the 68 million voters in this year's midterm elections to be vigilant at their polling precincts on May 12 and urged them to record and inform local authorities of suspicious activities.
—with a report from Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News
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