WHEREAS, the Commission on Elections, in its Resolution in the SPC No. 10-087 dated 07 December 2010, resolved, among others, to conduct special elections in Sitios Paraitan and Gumanting, Brgy. Baldatal Islam, Municipality of Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi, for the local positions thereat, on March 12, 2011;

WHEREAS,  all the Official Ballots for the March 12, 2011 special elections, including those intended for Sitios Paraitan and Gumanting, Brgy. Baldatal Islam, Sapa-Sapa,Tawi-Tawi, contain spaces for the positions of Mayor down to Councilors;

WHEREAS, the Municipal Mayor for the Municipality of Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi, has been proclaimed;

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in it by the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the Omnibus Election Code (B.P. Blg. 881), Republic Acts No. 6646, 7166, 9369 and other elections laws, the Commission RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, as follows:

1.       The position for Mayor in the Municipality of Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi, should not be voted for in the March 12, 2011 Special Elections;

2.       If the position of Mayor is voted for, the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) who shall serve in Sitios Paraitan and Gumanting, Brgy. Baldatal Islam in the March 12, 2011 Special Elections, shall not count the votes cast for Mayor;

3.       In the event that the votes have been counted at the precinct level, the Special Municipal Board of Canvassers (SMBOC) of Sapa-Sapa is hereby ordered not to canvass the votes cast for Mayor.

The Commission further RESOLVES to direct the SMBOC of Sapa-Sapa to strictly comply with the provisions of Resolution No. 9126 (General Instructions for the Municipal Boards of Canvassers in connection with the March 12, 2011 Special Elections) dated 28 January 2011, to canvass only the election returns for the precinct where the special elections is conducted, and consolidate said results to the printed Statement of Votes per Precinct (SOVP) generated during the May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections.  The SMBOC shall not entertain matters pertaining to the contents, preparation and transmittal of the printed SOVP for Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi, that was generated during the May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections.

This Resolution shall take effect seven (7) days after its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this Resolution and shall furnish copies thereof to Regional Election Director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Provincial Election Supervisor of Tawi-Tawi, the Election Officer of Sapa-Sapa, and the SMBOC of the Municipality of Sapa-Sapa.

Let the Deputy Executive Director for Operations implement this Resolution.

SO ORDERED.

Updated: 01.16.12 JJSH