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AFTER
three months of preparation and less than two days of
vote counting, the automated election in the Autonomous
Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is finally over.
“The
August 11, 2008, Automated ARMM Elections are a
success,” Commission on Elections Chairman Jose Armando
Melo said in a press conference Tuesday, enumerating the
“firsts” in the history of the election.
Melo
also said the Comelec has successfully conducted
automated elections—automated voting, counting and
canvassing in ARMM’s six provinces of Basilan, Lanao del
Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
“Despite
some untoward incidents arising primarily from the
ballot-box snatchings in some isolated areas, the
results remain a credible reflection of the people’s
will,” he said.
He added
that the people of the ARMM from now on could be
considered pioneers in the evolution of our electoral
system.
Melo
enumerated the “firsts” the ARMM achieved in the
country’s election history:
§
First
fraud-free election in more than half a century;
§
First
time the winning candidates were proclaimed in less than
two days after election day;
§
First to
use electronic voting and transmission machines in a
Philippine electoral exercise;
§
First
time election results have been uncontested;
§
First
elections with practically no reports of voter
disenfranchisement; and
§
First
elections where the rate of failure of elections is less
than 1 percent.
Meanwhile, the reelected ARMM Gov. Zaldy Puti Uy
Ampatuan was officially proclaimed in the Comelec
auditorium at 5 p.m., the deadline that Melo set.
ARMM
Vice Governor Ansaruddin-Abdul Malik Alonto Adiong will
be proclaimed tomorrow, 11 a.m. at the Comelec office in
Intramuros.
The
winning candidates for assemblymen are: Maguindanao—Umbrah
Ampatuan Datumanong, Khadafeh Gaguil Mangudadatu and
Pike Terando Mentang; Basilan—Rajam Mutamad Akbar,
Nasser Amin Asarul and Alnasser Julwadi Kamman; Lanao
del Sur—Jeha Racman Alonto, Suhaylah RAcman Salic, Samer
Umpar Salic; Sharrif Kabunsuan—Cahar Pendat Ibay, Roonie
Quesada Sinsuat, Bongarsa Jr. Diron Tomawis; Tawi-Tawi—Nur-Mahadil
Kingking Ahaja, Mustapha Joe Omar, Rejie Maquiso Sahali;
and Sulu—Nahil Hadjail Maldisa, Rizal Ansong Tingkahan
Jr., Nivocadnezar Talib Tulawie.
“I thank
the Comelec for conducting a very efficient and peaceful
election in the Autonomous Region,” Ampatuan said in
Filipino.
He then
also asked the people in the ARMM and in Mindanao to
unite as one, and to move on from the past political
issues. And start focusing on the welfare of the people.
Meanwhile, the military command in Sulu summarized in
two words its accomplishment in the ARMM elections:
“mission accomplished.”
Maj.
Gen. Juancho Sabban, chief of the military’s Joint Task
Force Comet, said the absence of major election-related
violent incidents and the positive turnout of voters
validated the claim that the election in the province of
Sulu is peaceful and successful.
“The
ARMM elections in Sulu were held without any incident
that derailed the process. There were no reports of
ballot-box snatching,” Sabban said.
“There
was public obedience in the government’s strict
enforcement of the gun ban while politicians had
exercised a high degree of decorum,” he added.
This,
even though three barangays were identified as areas of
immediate concern and 177 barangays as areas of concern
in the island province of Sulu.
Sulu,
with 19 municipalities and 410 barangays, has a total of
280,527 registered voters.
The
military and the police had deployed a combined force of
18,841 to secure the election in ARMM.
The
Comelec earlier said the voters turned out in droves,
lured by their curiosity with the technology of
automated voting.
However,
Sabban said the success is not only credited to the
resolve and unity of efforts between the Comelec and the
government security forces toward the holding of free,
orderly, honest, peaceful and credible election. He said
the people also deserve praise for the serene and
peaceful climate during the voting process.
The
people had evidently answered the call for vigilance and
cooperation against all forms of violence and
lawlessness, he said.
“We
appreciate their cooperation and vigilance that helped
us in the defense of their votes,” he said.
Besides
the mature manner devoid of intimidation or
interference, Sabban said Sulu was able to prove that it
is a place where true democracy can be exercised and
equal rights for all can be assured.
“Let’s
celebrate the outcome of the elections in an atmosphere
of peace. With or without elections, violence and public
disturbance must not be allowed to dampen our peaceful
and democratic credentials. Our unity in purpose in
moving along the path to peace must transcend beyond
elections,” he said.
ARMM
police director Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao said the
election was overshadowed by events involving the
attacks staged by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
rebels in Basilan, which is part of ARMM, and in North
Cotabato areas. |
