CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, (PNA) — A few incidents of election violations and a reported holdup of a candidate marred the generally peaceful conduct of barangay elections in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday morning.
City police chief Graciano Mijares said on Tuesday that three groups totalling 10 men were caught for violating the liquor ban and one person was arrested for gun ban violation.
Mijares added that a candidate for “punong barangay” in barangay Cugman was reportedly held up shortly before midnight after returning home on Sunday.
He said that the candidate identified as Elmer Cotiamco told police that two men knocked on their door’s house.
One of the holdup men reportedly pulled a gun and announced holdup when Cotiamco opened the door, Mijares said.
He said that the holdup men carted away P 7,000 cash and the cellphone of Cotiamco’s house helper.
Despite the incidents, Mijares said that the conduct of the election day from 7 a.m. to 13 noon on Monday was “generally peaceful.”
He said that the city’s police command has deployed about 400 police officers to secure the polling places here.
About 223 candidates vied for the “punong barangay” positions and 1,876 candidates had filed a certificate of candidacy for the 80 rural and urban barangays here on Monday, Mijares added.