MARAWI CITY – Following the October 20 grenade blast that disrupted the list up of new voters here, the city election officer has been relieved, but his successor refused to assume office for security reason; leaving the ongoing registration in disarray.

Amid mixed feelings of tension and confusion, prospect registrants Sunday called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) hierarchy to send a special task force to takeover and pursue the list up proceedings in more secured fashion.

"The situation is both tense and confusing. It is something only the Comelec higher authorities can resolve," Jamil, a business administration student here, who turned 18 two months ago and was desiring to list up, told the Bulletin.

The Comelec ordered the relief of city election officer Tammy Macadindang following the alleged discovery of flying voters in the October 20 grenade explosion that killed one person and wounded 20 others, most of them "recruited" from Lanao del Norte.

Lawyer Rey Sumalipao, regional elections director for Muslim Mindanao region, said Macadindang’s relief created a problem because his Comelec-designated successor has "refused" to assume office for security reason.

Sumalipao, who was investigating the grenade explosion on order of Commissioner Elias Yusoph, did not name the designated successor, saying only that he is current election officer from Lanao del Sur.

Informed of the dilemma, Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Al. Adiong Jr. Sunday corroborated the unlisted voters’ call for Comelec to dispatch immediately a special team from Manila to takeover the disrupted registration proceedings.

Adiong said that none of the election officers in his province would dare to take the place of Macadindang because they allegedly feared for their life amid intimidating rivalry among political camps in this city.

Brig. Gen. Rey Ardo. Chief of the Arm’y 403rd Brigade here, had earlier blamed intense political rivalry between and among clans for the October 20 blast.

"Here in Lanao del Sur, political maneuverings start during the registration of voters. This is when all the candidates will field their flying voters to be registered," Ardo said.

At least 15 of the 21 casualties in the grenade explosion including slain Jefferson Navarro, 27, were among the 56 Christian residents from barangay Samburun in Linamon, Lanao del Norte who were recruited to list up here using assumed Muslim names, according to Junie Macias, chairman of the host barangay.