Parouk Hussin, the rival of Nur Misuari, outgoing Chairman of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), will soon be declared the next ARMM chief, said election watch-dog, the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL).

Hussin campaigned quietly for his candidacy after the Misuari-faction in the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) renewed their armed struggle and attacked the army headquarters and other security installations in Jolo on November 19.

According to NAMFREL, Mahid Mutilan, administration vice-governor candidate for ARMM, is also expected to win in the final counting of an estimated 715,000 ballots in the ARMM region.

Hussin got a total of 229,937 votes, and Mutilan, 228,644. Both enjoyed a big lead over their rivals: Ibrahim Paglas who got 99,930 votes, and Benjamin Loon, 94,847 votes, said NAMFREL. The election watch-dog added that it has counted 42 per cent of the ballots, covering 2,730 of the 6,511 precincts in the area.

Both Hussin and Mutilan are running under the political party of President Gloria Arroyo. Fifteen candidates vied for the slot of governor, and 13 for the seat of vice-governor. Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman, Alfredo Benipayo, said his office will not release figures until after the counting of the certificate of canvass.

Some COMELEC Board of Election Inspectors are still counting ballots, he said, adding that the counting and proclamation of the 24 members of the ARMM legislative assembly will be done in the six provinces of the ARMM, while the counting of the certificates of canvass for the candidates for governor and vice governor will be done in Manila's COMELEC office.

Meanwhile, Benipayo declared the failure of elections in some areas in Datu Sinsuat, Maguindanao province, after ballot boxes from 12 precincts were reportedly filled up even before the start of the polls. He did not say if special elections would be conducted in these places which have 200 voters.