Army: Central Mindanao polls generally peaceful, orderly despite violent incidents

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao ---  After voting precincts closed Monday afternoon last week , the Army's 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division braced for another challenge in most parts of Central Mindanao in keeping security tight until the winners are officially declared, the military here said Tuesday.

The entire election day was spent by military and policemen doing the round of precincts which were reported to have issues mostly on commotions between supporters of opposing candidates.

Incidents recorded since late night Sunday (May 8) include explosions coming from rifle grenades hitting shanties and nearby structures of Datu Unsay public market in Maguindanao town, resulting in the death of one farmer, Habiri Katapukan, and wounding of another three persons.

As precincts of Tambunan Elementary School in Guindulungan, Maguindanao opened early Monday, uproars were felt between the Liberal Party mayoralty candidate supporters and UNA mayoralty candidate supporters which resulted in the death of two persons, Tagani Midtimbang, who died from physical injuries, and a certain Ogay Pega who was shot dead by one of the supporters of the opposing party.

In Pagalungan town, a rocket-propelled grenade was also fired and exploded two meters away from Mamasabulod Elementary School around 6:45 a.m. However, it did not hamper the conduct of elections until voting was over Monday afternoon.

At past 9 in the morning, supporters of the incumbent Benzar Ampatuan and supporters of his opponent also engaged in a brawl that further turned into a firing of weapons and resulted to wounding of four persons, namely: Saula M. Usop 17, Ibrahim Usop, 23, Badriya Usop, 42, and Juhari Mohamad, 23.

Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, Task Force Central commander and head of Task Force CHOP (Clean, Honest, Orderly and Peaceful) elections, said generally the peace and order situation of his area of jurisdiction was peaceful as compared to the 2013 national and local elections.

A total of 15 election related violence incidents (ERVI) had been recorded for election day alone, a significant decrease from the former 38 in 2010 elections and 24 in 2013 elections, respectively. These resulted in death of three persons and injuries of 10 others.

Pangilinan went around the entire area of operations to personally see the deployment of the soldiers and to check on any issue and concern that might have come up requiring his decision the entire day.

“The massive peace covenant signing campaign prior the election day has greatly caused the decrease of the ERVIs,” he said.

“We have noticed that the candidates themselves detest violence and hone a clean and credible electoral process, which is a welcoming development,” he said.

“Despite the numerous challenges that have tested the security sector, the measures prepared for contingency plans were successful in hampering atrocious plans and actions,” Pangilinan said.

“The heavy presence of soldiers and police in areas which were identified as areas of immediate concern pre-empted election-related violence to prosper,” he added.

As early as the first week of May, troops were already pre-deployed and pre-positioned to different strategic areas that the command deemed necessary that troops be temporarily stationed.

The Task Force Kampilan CHOP which was led by Col, Romeo Brawner,  Jr., and tasked as a rapid deployment force, was also sent to areas of immediate concern.

It was the same unit that stopped the riot between supporters of mayoralty candidates of Shariff Aguak Municipality a day before the election as well as to incidents in Datu Unsay and Guindulungan municipalities. (PNA - Cotabato)