The proclamation of winners in the May 12 midterm elections in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental was unhampered despite the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon hours after the voting ended, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

Comelec – Negros Island Region (NIR) Director Lionel Marco Castillano said the polls closed at 7:00 p.m. except for those in line after their names were listed ahead of the deadline.

“There were no significant incidents reported as a result of the eruption, and we were lucky that the elections went smoothly, given that, in the previous days, there were indications of a potential major eruption based on Phivolcs reports,” he said in an interview.

The automated counting machines, other equipment, election paraphernalia, teachers, security forces, and the general public were all reported safe in the hours that followed the eruption, he added.

Proclaimed as winners on Tuesday, May 13, were Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria as governor; Fritz Diaz, vice governor; incumbent 2nd District Representative Manuel “Chikiting” Sagarbarria as Dumaguete mayor; Emmanuel Iway, 1st District House representative; Maisa Sagarbarria, 2nd District representative; Janice Degamo, 3rd District representative; and Sangguniang Panlalawigan members.

A report from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said a “moderately explosive eruption” occurred at the summit crater at 2:55 a.m. on Tuesday and lasted five minutes, sending large ballistic fragments and causing ashfall in some areas in Negros Occidental.

Castillano said the contingency plan of the Office of Civil Defense and the Comelec for an Alert Level 4 (major explosion) scenario for Mt. Kanlaon will remain in place as the country gears up for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on December 1. (PNA)