A Commission on Elections (Comelec) official on Wednesday urged Abreños to unite for peace and progress after the May 12 national and local polls.

“Wala na akong masabi, lahat sila magagaling naman. Ang masasabi ko lang sana magtulungan tayo sa ika-a-asenso at pag progreso ng Abra (I can’t say anything more because they are all good. All I can say is that I hope we would work hand and hand for for development and progress of Abra),” lawyer Nicasio Jacob, Abra provincial election officer, said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.

He said he trusts that the elected officials would give their best in the service of the people and the province.

Meanwhile, Jacob said minor problems were encountered during the elections in the province as far as the automated counting machines (ACM) were concerned.

“There were a few challenges, minor ones that only required repairs. The ACM at San Quintin and Penarrubia had to be changed,” he said.

Except for some peace and order issues, the election was also generally peaceful in Abra, he noted.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded one shooting incident in the province on election day, where two persons were injured. The Abra PNP said it is still checking on the closed-circuit television cameras in Barangay Sagap, Bangued town to determine whether the incident was election-related.

“We can say it is generally peaceful and successful with a high voter turn out having less than 10 percent who did not cast their vote,” Jacob said.

“Election in the region was successful. It was generally peaceful except for the incidents in the province of Abra. The overall performance of the ACM was good. There were problems encountered by the machines but were immediately addressed,” said lawyer Julius Torres, Comelec-Cordillera regional director. (PNA)