By VIOLETA M. GLORIA
Mindanews
ILIGAN CITY. – The conduct of elections in Lanao del Norte can be considered generally peaceful despite delays in the transmission of results from 11 hinterland towns, the Pastoral Parish Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said.
Fr.Rey Pati-an, provincial PPCRV head, said the peaceful election could be attributed to well-behaved voters and to the separation of Iligan City as a lone congressional district.
Pati-an said politicians in Lanao del Norte dislike being dictated upon by by officials coming from the city.
Pati-an said there were hitches which include 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. Security forces barred the flying voters from entering Tangkal.
Lanao del Norte election assistant Irma Jean Rosales reported that the towns of Kolambugan, Magsaysay, Munai, Nunungan, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Tangkal,
Poona Piagapo, Pantaoragat, Tagoloan, Tangcal and Pantar were yet to transmit their results.
Rosales said that while voting took place in those towns, their office received reports that the memory cards of the PCOS machines were defective.
Patian suggested that the results from these towns should be transmitted from areas where there is good signal to avoid wasting volunteers’ time.
Rosales also mentioned that the towns of Pantao-Ragat and Matungao were placed under Comelec control and that soldiers were deployed there to preempt violence.
Meanwhile, results gathered by the PPCRV showed incumbent Gov. Khalid Dimaporo leading the race.
His mother, Imelda Q. Dimaporo was also poised to regain her seat in Congress.
In Iligan, election officer Roselyn Smith had declared Rep. Vicente Belmonte and Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz as winners. Incumbent vice mayor Henry Dy also won against Tete Pacaña.