Health protocols generally followed with few violations, watchdog says

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13) — Thousands of Palawan residents headed out on Saturday to vote on whether or not to divide the province into three – a historic event seen to provide a glimpse of how the 2022 national elections would look like amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, a watchdog authorized to observe the Palawan plebiscite, said that in general, anti-coronavirus protocols were followed. The group, however, flagged a few violations.

“[P]erhaps due to inclement weather in some municipalities, there were instances when physical distancing in the queues was not observed due to the downpour at the start of voting,” NAMFREL said in a preliminary statement before polls closed at 3 p.m. It did not mention which local government units lacked social distancing at some point.

NAMFREL observers spotted some voters in Bataraza town violating the face mask and face shield requirement, while another voting center in Aborlan town did not have any medical personnel.

Under the rules of the Commission on Elections, those found with a temperature of at least 37.5 degrees Celsius or show other COVID-19 symptoms will be isolated.

READ: Palawan plebiscite: What you need to know

“For this electoral exercise and in preparation for the 2022 national and local elections (NLE), NAMFREL is putting focus on highlighting the effectiveness of the implementation of Comelec’s anti-Covid protocols, identifying areas that could be further strengthened, and recommending measures to help ensure the conduct of a safer 2022 NLE,” NAMFREL said.

Still, it expressed concern over the vote buying in Brooke’s Point, where residents were given ₱200 to vote a certain way. It did not specify if the residents were asked to vote for or against the split.

NAMFREL said there was also some confusion on the voting precincts, but this may be due to Comelec’s efforts to limit the number of voters to 200 per clustered precinct and only five at a time. Still, the process “appears well-organized” with no significant delay, the election watchdog said.

Photos posted by Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez showed polling booths divided by plastic barriers. “The new look of Philippine elections,” he said in one tweet.

The Comelec expects to finish canvassing votes on March 16. Comelec said there are 490,639 registered voters, but voter turnout has not been determined. Republic Act 11259 or the “Charter of the Provinces of Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur” states that these three provinces will be created upon a majority vote of residents from affected areas, excluding the capital and highly urbanized city of Puerto Princesa.

READ: Palawan plebiscite set for 2021 as COVID-19 task force OKs health protocols