The Commission on Elections said no major glitches have been reported during yesterday’s plebiscite that would divide Palawan into three provinces, namely Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur.
The result of the plebiscite will be announced on March 16 (Tuesday)
“We have to take into account the weather also and other circumstances,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.
Jimenez said majority of the polling places opened on time “with the exception of Kalayaan where it was delayed because of the late arrival of election supplies and paraphernalia.”
The Comelec official said that only one “untoward incident” was reported.
“(This consists) of a report of certain barangay officials refusing to give health declaration forms to some voters. The matter was immediately responded to and voters were allowed to exercise their right to suffrage,” he said.
Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr., commissioner-in-charge of the Palawan plebiscite, earlier said they cannot release the results on the same day since they conducted a manual system of voting.
“This is not automated, wherein after the polls, precincts will immediately transmit the results to the municipal canvassing until it reached the national canvassing,” Kho said.
“So it will take time. There is travel time. We could get the final results by the 16th, although it may give or take a day or two so that we could determine if it is a ‘Yes’ or is it a ‘No,’” he added.
A total of 490,639 registered voters in Palawan were expected to cast their votes in 2,959 clustered precincts.
