PIKIT, North Cotabato, (PNA) — Thousands of voters here have yet to cast their votes three hours after voting started nationwide.
Teachers serving as board of election tellers are now at Pikit Central Elementary School bringing with them election paraphernalia.
And thousands of voters from 13 barangays, earlier tagged by police as “areas of immediate concern,” also trooped to the central school on board hauler trucks and jeepneys, waiting when the balloting will open.
Joel Celis, Pikit election officer, said the teachers refused to serve in the 13 barangay due to security reasons.
He said the village councils of 13 barangays passed a resolution last week asking the poll body to transfer the election from their areas to the Pikit town center.
“These resolutions were rejected by Comelec Manila,” Celis said. “So election must be held in the barangay and not at the town center as teachers and village officials wanted it to be,” Celis said.
Supt. Noel Kinazo, North Cotabato deputy director for operations, said despite repeated appeals from teachers to proceed to their respective areas of assignment they would not move.
“The Army and PNP personnel are already in the area, we have secured the voting centers but still they prefer to hold the election in the town center,” Kinazo said.
“Time element is of precious importance for the voters and everyone here…sayang ang oras, the Comelec has to decide,” he said.
As of 10 a.m., Celis was still meeting with the teachers and representatives from the Army and PNP.