ZAMBOANGA CITY—A Commission on Elections (Comelec) official announced that the poll body will designate policemen to serve in the Boards of Election Tellers (BETs) in case teachers refuse to render duty during the special Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and barangay elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

ARMM assistant election officer Vidzfar Juli said this is one of the anticipatory measures that regional poll officials discussed in a dialogue last week with Elections Commissioner Moslemen Macarambon, the commissioner in charge of ARMM.

Juli said local poll officials have anticipated that some of the teachers will not serve as BET members during the special elections owing to intimidation or threats as what happened on October 29.

The Comelec has set the special SK and barangay elections on December 15 in villages where there was failure of or no elections at all held on October 29.

In the case of the ARMM, Juli said special elections will be held in more than 200 barangays since there was failure of or no elections at all took place during the scheduled October 29 SK and barangay polls.

ARMM comprises of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Marawi City.

Aside from the ARMM, special elections will also be conducted in some barangays in the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, and South Cotabato, and Pasay City.

The Comelec has ordered a total gun ban from December 10 to 20 in the barangays where special synchronized SK and barangay elections will be held on December 15.

Juli said the Comelec central office is sending 233 official copies of election returns (ERs) to be used in Basilan and Sulu special elections.

Cops given poll duty in ARMM

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A Commission on Elections (Comelec) official announced that the poll body will designate policemen to serve in the Boards of Election Tellers (BETs) in case teachers refuse to render duty during the special Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and barangay elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

ACTING on the personal appeal of President Arroyo, the Emir of Kuwait on Sunday agreed to spare the life of Filipino worker Marilou Ranario, who is scheduled for execution in the oil-rich kingdom early next year.

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has dismissed for lack of jurisdiction the petition filed by the National Power Corp. (Napocor) seeking to nullify the foreclosure sale of its real properties in Kitang, Limay, Bataan, owing to nonpayment of franchise tax in the amount of P60.5 million.

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