(1st UPDATE) BARMM Interior Minister Naguib Sinarimbo says there are also reports about alleged attempts to sneak out ballots in Maguindanao
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines – Tensions gripped Cotabato City on Saturday night, May 7, when a group identified with the United Bangsamoro Justice Party blocked the movement of vote-counting machines to polling centers from the local office of the Commission on Elections .
Police Lieutenant Colonel Sabri Lakibul said one Murad Kusain Guiapar reported to the police that a guard allowed eight people into the municipal hall and access the election materials on Friday, but investigators concluded that it never happened. Sinarimbo said they wanted the VCMs to be moved during the daytime on Sunday, May 8, and not during the evening contrary to what Cotabato City police director Colonel Rommel Javier had wanted.When cooler heads prevailed, Sinarimbo said, it was agreed that the election paraphernalia would be moved by the Comelec and police on Sunday.