ZAMBOANGA CITY—A powerful explosion rocked the province of Sulu, causing the destruction of Commission on Elections (Comelec) properties.

                The Autonomous Region in Muslim (ARMM) Mindanao police reported that the explosion took place on Saturday night in front of the Comelec office located beside the provincial capitol building in the town of Patikul.

                No one was reported injured during the incident.        Investigators are looking into the possibility that the explosion is election-related as the poll body is now preparing for the holding of special Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and barangay elections in the province.

                The explosive was placed in a trash can in front of the provincial Comelec office.

                ARMM Assistant Election Officer Vidzfar Juli said the explosion destroyed some computers and other equipment of the provincial Comelec office.

                Juli said the explosion has also destroyed the office’s main door and shattered windows.

                Explosives, ordnance and demolition personnel of the Army reported that the explosive was made of ammonium nitrate, which is commonly used as a fertilizer.

                Investigators are still determining the identities of the assailants.

                The explosion occurred two days before the arrival of election paraphernalia from the Comelec central office.

                The Comelec will hold special synchronized SK and barangay elections on Saturday in some barangays in the province, where there was a failure of elections on October 29.

                The Comelec will designate policemen to serve as members of the boards of election tellers  in case teachers refuse to render poll duty.

                Juli said special elections will be held in more than 200 barangays in the ARMM since there was a failure of or no elections at all in those localities during the October 29 elections.

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

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

Army general vows to rid NL of communist rebels by 2010

A RANKING Army official said on Tuesday that the units under his command could finish the New People’s Army (NPA) in their areas before 2010 despite the earlier pronouncements of other leaders of the military that they may not be able to meet the deadline set by President Arroyo.

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Lito Atienza was to meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Tuesday to discuss initiatives to ensure the sustainable management and conservation of the Coral Triangle, a rich marine area bordering Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands.

MILITANT groups are gearing up for nationwide protest actions against the recent surge in oil prices.

Members of the leftist labor federation Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) will lead the nationally coordinated protest actions.

THE Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC) is bent on unmasking the individuals who cooked up the National Power Corp.’s (Napocor) allegedly overpriced purchase of coal supply for Napocor plants when the bicameral oversight panel meets on Thursday, Sen. Miriam Santiago said.

SEN. Antonio Trillanes IV and his group admitted to courtroom misbehavior on Tuesday as they apologized to the judge for walking out of the hearing of the coup charges against them on November 29, prior to taking over the Peninsula Manila Hotel.

PRESIDENT Arroyo is perceived to be the most corrupt Chief Executive in the country’s recent history and her administration the hardest hit by allegations of  graft compared to others, the latest Pulse Asia survey showed.

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A powerful explosion rocked the province of Sulu, causing the destruction of Commission on Elections (Comelec) properties.

AT least five Cabinet members will be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) before Congress goes on a Christmas break next week, the head of the House of Representatives’ contingent to the commission announced on Tuesday.