The Commission on Elections (Comelec) recorded two separate arson incidents in different towns in Maguindanao on Saturday, Oct. 28, or just two days before the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

A fire engulfed classrooms that were supposed to be used as polling precincts in Ruminimbang Elementary School in Barangay Rumimbang, Barira, in Maguindanao del Norte.

According to the report shared by Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, the incident resulted in the burning of Grade 1 to Grade 4 classrooms of the said school. No casualty was reported.

The report stated that Barangay Ruminimbang was categorized as an election area with grave concern or under the red category. It said it was possible that the incident was connected to the upcoming BSKE.

Still, Garcia said it was too early to make a definitive conclusion.

The second incident occurred at Dalican Pilot Elementary School in Poblacion, Dalican, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Sur. 

Based on the report, the buildings were poured with three gallons of gasoline by unidentified perpetrators, who caused a fire to break out in two classrooms and the school canteen.

Garcia said that while two classrooms were burned down, voting in the area won't be affected as the rooms will not be used for the election.

He added that election officers (EOs) conducted ocular inspections in the two schools and stated that they could still conduct voting there since there were other classrooms that could be used.

Meanwhile, Poona Piagapo Central Elementary School in Old Poblacion, Poona Piagapo Lanao del Norte was also hit by a fire on Saturday at 2 a.m. 

This resulted in the complete destruction of one classroom. The fire was extinguished at around 4 a.m. on the same day with no reported casualties.

Garcia said that the voting center that will be used was not affected by the fire.