Police, military to serve as election tellers in ARMM

By VINCE NONATO

AS in previous elections, police and military personnel will serve as election tellers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in Monday’s barangay polls, in place of teachers who have refused to render service.

A policeman stands guard at the voter registration in Timanan, South Upi, Maguindanao. File photo by AMIEL MARK CAGAYAN

Teachers across the country normally serve as election tellers but fearing for their safety, many in the ARMM opt out of their election duties, Philippine National Police spokesperson Senior Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac said on Thursday.

ARMM consistently has one of the highest numbers of election-related incidents in the country. Out of the 30 incidents recorded since September 28, the start of the election period, five of them—all shooting incidents—occurred in the highly volatile region.