Namfrel ‘slow count’

The Namfrel quick count found itself bogged down with technicalities to the point that the public dubbed it yesterday as a "slow count."

Results tabulated so far by the volunteer poll watchers represented a minuscule percentage of the total. Even the Bacolod count hardly reached 10,000 while the city canvass is about to start and come out with the final results.

Namfrel chairwoman Carmen Benares said some of the problems included unsigned copies, ineligible signatures and lack of certification.

"We are trying our best to correct these errors," said Benares. But there was poor chance of a rapid pick-up of the "quick count," as of press time.

Meanwhile, based on unofficial reports from various sources, including the media, there were indications that the two Arroyos – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and brother-in-law Ignacio Arroyo – were ahead by big margins in the fifth district.

Of course, Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon snowed under his rival, Delia Lacson, widow of the late Senator Jose Locsin.

Comelec provincial supervisor Marsha Cordero hinted that she may have to proclaim Iggy soon as congressman-elect of the fifth district which he successfully wrested from re-electionist Rep. Apolinario Lozada.

Uncontested congressional bets were Reps. Jose Carlos Lacson (third district), JR Alvarez (sixth district) and Alfredo Marañon III (second district).

Although with opponents, Reps. Carlos Cojuangco (fourth district) and come-backing Tranquilino Carmona of the first district were already enjoying insurmountable leads over their opponents.

Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco, former Lakas provincial chairman, also ran unopposed.

As of yesterday, while the canvassing and counting of votes was still going on, Gov. Marañon projected that GMA would win not more than 100,000. GMA campaign manager Rafael Coscolluela, however, said the presidential edge could go as high as 150,000 votes. KNP regional campaign manager Modesto Saonoy disputed these estimates. He claimed the GMA spread could reach at most 50,000.

Prior to the Marañon and United Negros Alliance defections last March, coalition forces here had projected a 400,000 lead by GMA. Despite the initial impact of the Marañon move, the GMA forces managed to stem the bleeding and pull off the damage control.

In Bacolod, the city canvass showed re-electionist Rep. Monico Puentevella winning over challenger John Orola by a wide margin. Re-electionist Mayor Luzviminda Valdez, however, was encountering a closely contested race with come-backing former mayor Evelio Leonardia.

In the vice mayoralty race, Renecito Novero, Valdez’s running mate, enjoyed a comfortable lead over councilor Roberto Rojas.

In Iloilo City, meanwhile, re-electionist Mayor Jerry Trenas, as earlier reported by this columnist, sailed toward his re-election virtually unimpeded. It was actually no contest in his fight against Vice Mayor Victor Facultad. GMA also won overwhelmingly in the city.

75% Turnout In W. Visayas

Contrary to earlier expectations, balloting in Western Visayas was peaceful. And the turnout was heavy — 75 percent, according to Commission on Elections regional director Vicente Gaborne.

Initial counting of votes also showed an overwhelming support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her running mate, Sen. Noli de Castro. In Negros Occidental, the counting was running in favor of the administration party with almost 50 percent for GMA and the K-4 bets.

Contrary to earlier predictions, including in areas of concern, hardly any major violent incident marred Election Day. The strafing of the residence of Sipalay rival mayoralty Ulysses Hisona was the only violent incident reported. Police later picked up Benito Bordomeo and Roger Eslabon, both of Barangay Poblacion, as the suspects. The two are reported to be supporters of re-electionist Mayor Oscar Montilla.

Superintendent Mark Belarma, acting PNP provincial director, immediately directed a team from the Regional Mobile Group to reinforce the Sipalay police.

Last-Minute Substitution

In Iloilo City, re-electionist Rep. Augusto Syjuco officially withdrew his candidacy for Iloilo’s second district and asked that he be substituted by his wife, Judy Lopez Jalbuena-Syjuco.

Actually, Syjuco, of the Lakas-CMD, was uncontested for his third and final term.

Gaborne said the Comelec approved the withdrawal and the substitution, which were done according to law.

Syjuco earlier had created a stir when he threw his support behind re-electionist Gov. Niel Tupas after withdrawing support for his close friend, Rep. Oscar Garin of the first district who was running for governor of Iloilo.

Negros Oriental, 80%

While the Comelec claimed that 70 to 75% of the registered voters of Western Visayas participated in the May 10 elections, in Negros Oriental, the Comelec estimated 80 percent.

Negros Occidental led the Western Visayas region with 1,473,099 registered voters. Iloilo, including Passi City, has 915,153 registered voters, while Iloilo City boasted of 253,424 voters.

Aklan has 241,323; Antique, 241,423; Capiz, 378,749; and Guimaras, 75,425 voters.

With a turnout of 76.34 percent, 2,378,044 voters in the region actually voted out of the total 3,115,176 registered voters.

The major incident recorded in Negros Occidental was the arrest of three alleged supporters of Silay City mayoralty bet Jose "Oti" Montelibano at a checkpoint last Sunday with 276 white envelopes, each containing P200 in P100 bills. The police under Superintendent Celestino Guara also seized sample ballots of the Lakas.

Comelec provincial supervisor Marsha Cordero directed the Silay police to file the corresponding charges of vote-buying against the trio. The two Montelibano coordinators were Mileta Siote, 44, and Melvin Abordo, 50, both of Barangay Eustaquio Lopez, Silay City. The third was 44-year-old Maria Dolores Corentin, a watcher of the Lakas-CMD of Barangay Rizal.

Both Montelibano and re-electionist Mayor Carlos Gamban are supporters of GMA and the K-4.

CVOs In Gun Raps

The only other disturbing incident was the readying by the Talisay City police of charges of illegal discharge of firearms against six alleged civilian volunteer officers (CVOs) who were caught carrying high-powered firearms in Barangay Matab-ang in Talisay City last week.

Acting police chief Leo Erwin Agapangan identified the six as Alex Pinipuna, Ricky Bansuelo, Noel Blazao, Rolando Olida, Napoleon Jimenez and Alfonso Espenilla.

The suspects, however, fled upon surrendering their firearms. They did not have any license to carry firearms, claiming the papers were still being processed.

Cops seized from them four M-16 baby Armalites and two 12-gauge shotguns.

Vote-Buying

There were persistent rumors of rampant vote-buying, especially in Bacolod City where re-electionist Mayor Joy Valdez and former mayor Evelio Leonardia were locked in a tight race.

So is the case of the congressional contest between re-electionist Rep. Monico Puentevella and former Rep. John Orola Jr.

In one instance, Comelec provincial supervisor Marsha Cordero, in response to summons for help from city supervisor Daisy Real, rushed to JR Torres in Barangay Singcang where the competing politicians had set up so-called voters’ assistance centers.

Cordero chanced upon a big packet of sample ballots under the table of a sidewalk eatery which was supposed to be selling food. She ordered the police to confiscate the sample ballots and ordered the dismantling of all propaganda materials.

Cordero asked the staffers of another voters’ assistance center to remove their colored ribbons which indicated the possibility of identifying cooperative voters. She also requested the PPCRV to assign personnel to oversee the operations of the center. She also directed the police to tear down the propaganda posters.

RPA ‘Extortionists’

Other than the usual delayed opening of precincts, loss of names of electors and other minor gripes from voters, the only other ugly situation that developed in Negros Occidental was the announcement by the CPP-NPA that they were holding two members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-ABB they earlier had nabbed for collecting money from sugar farmers and residents of Silay and Talisay.

Ka Esther Estrella, spokeswoman of the Jean Pelle Command, said the two "splitists" — Rizaldy Flores and Richal Roldan — will remain in their custody pending their trial by the people’s tribunal.

So far, these are the incidents that marred the May 10 polls. Otherwise, the situation has settled; now is the long wait for the outcome of the counting. However, initial reports indicate an overwhelming vote for GMA and the K-4 ticket despite the April shift of support to Fernando Poe Jr. by Gov. Joseph Marañon and the resignation of Lakas provincial chairman, Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco.