Personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been designated to serve as members of the Special Election Board (SEB) in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindano del Norte following tensions that disrupted the voting process in the area, DZRH correspondent Edniel Parrosa reported on Monday.
The decision came after a group of individuals reportedly blocked the transport of Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) to various barangays, causing significant delays in the voting process that only resumed later in the afternoon.
In an online press briefing, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) police spokesperson PLtCol JC Ventura said the group that staged the protest opposed the individuals originally assigned by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to serve as electoral board members in the municipality.
"Nagkaroon po ng protesta itong mga supporters po ng UVJP, umabot po 'yan hanggang almost 10 o'clock," Ventura explained.
Due to the escalating situation, 312 PNP personnel were deployed to replace the original SEB members in Datu Odin Sinsuat to ensure that the electoral process could proceed.
Ventura added that a candidate for vice mayor helped mediate the situation by suggesting that police personnel take over the duties of the SEB, which was eventually agreed upon.
Meanwhile, a total of 3,698 police personnel were trained and deployed by the PNP across the BARMM to assist as SEB members as needed.
COMELEC had earlier placed Datu Odin Sinsuat under its control after a poll officer was gunned down in the area last April.
