Comelec office in Sta. Margarita, Samar hit by fire; BSKE docs remain ‘intact’

The Commission on Elections reported on Friday that a fire hit the local office of the Comelec in Sta. Margarita, Samar.

"There was a fire in our local Comelec office in Sta. Margarita, Samar," Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in a press conference.

Garcia added that there was nothing to worry about because of the proclamations of winning Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials in Sta. Margarita was already completed.

" The copies of the certificate of canvass of votes and the proclamation of barangay and SK officials are intact," Garcia said.

According to the Comelec chair, the Comelec office in Sta. Margarita was completely damaged by fire and the local office is still waiting for the results of the investigation.

Garcia added that all BSKE winners were also proclaimed except the candidates who were ordered suspended by the Comelec including those with tie votes as the electoral boards have utilized the five-day notice rule.

The BSKE was held on 30 October except for seven barangays in Lanao del Sur and Samar, which held the elections the following day.