Aklan elections generally peaceful
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - The synchronized manual barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections were generally peaceful, according to the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO). Aklan police director Senior Superintendent Epifanio Bragais, Jr. has declared the orderly and peaceful conduct of elections by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) throughout the province.
Except for few minor incidents reported during the voting, the elections for over 5,200 posts in 327 barangays at stake in the province were smooth and manageable.

Comelec already postponed the elections in two villages in Libacao, Aklan due to the delay in the delivery of election forms and supplies. The poll body said the elections will push through on October 27 or two days after the scheduled Monday's polls.
APPO had deployed its police personnel in the barangays and established police assistance desks in each barangay, augmented by force multipliers, as part of its overall security measures.

The local police also intensified its checkpoints and roving patrols to ensure the implementation of the nationwide gun ban. To date, four violators were apprehended in relation to the gun ban imposed by the Comelec.

Bragais also noted no major untoward incidents occurred during the barangay and youth elections as both the police and the military were on full alert to guard the precincts.

Voting centers across the province opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 3 p.m.

The manual counting by the Board of ElectionTellers (BET), mostly teachers hired by Comelec, started after the regular voting hours and the winners were declared after the counting of ballots.