Residents ask Comelec to probe Maguindanao floating ballot box
NDBC BANTAY HALALAN 2023 • 11:45 AM Mon Jun 17, 2019
1
By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
COTABATO CITY – Residents of a remote Maguindanao town have asked the Commission on Elections to probe the discovery of a mysterious ballot box with election documents for the May 13 elections.
“We ask the Comelec to investigate it, this is clearly a proof there was cheating in last month’s election here in Datu Salibo,” Sam Esmael said in an interview.
Sam Esmael, a resident of Datu Salibo, Maguindanao, said today that the poll body should invalidate the proclamation of winners in Datu Salibo election until after the investigation.
Esmael posted on his Facebook the ballot box found floating at the back of town hall building in Barangay Sambulawan, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.
Modz Mindao found the ballot box at about 4 p.m. on Friday in a marsh at the back of the town hall. He quickly alerted his neighbors about his discovery, according to Esmael.
Comelec records show that Datu Salibo has 9,504 registered voters and about 5,000 of whom have participated in the elections.
Solaiman Sandigan, the challenger for mayor post, was proclaimed mayor-elect for garnering 2,279 votes against reelectionist Mayor Norodin Salasal’s 1,147 votes.
Maryann Marohombsar was the town election officer at the time of election and efforts to reach her for comments failed as of posting.