Fire destroys polling place in Abra
Dangdangla Elementary School in Dangdangla, Bangued, Abra was 70% destroyed by a fire that was estimated to start in the early morning of May 7, 2025.
Photo Courtesy of Comelec Abra
BAGUIO CITY — Authorities have yet to release the results of their investigation into the early morning fire that destroyed an elementary school in Bangued, Abra, on 7 May 2025.
The school, which was designated as a polling center for the upcoming 12 May National and Local Elections (NLE), sustained around 70 percent damage. The Automated Counting Machine (ACM) assigned to the area had not yet been delivered at the time of the fire.
As a result, the Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) of the ACM scheduled for 7 May will not proceed, pending reports and recommendations from the Bangued Election Officer regarding the transfer of the polling center to a safer location.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Cordillera clarified that there has been no recommendation from the COMELEC Central Office to place the province of Abra under COMELEC control.