Bet wants Sta. Fe election officer out

Sta. Fe mayoralty candidate Domingo Zaspa and his entire slate asked the provincial Commission on Elections Office for the immediate transfer of their municipal election officer.

Zaspa claimed that election officer Neriza Gigante seems biased for their opponents, incumbent councilor Roger Illustrisimo Sr., who is running for mayor, and his son incumbent Mayor Roger Illustrisimo, who is running for councilor.

Zaspa, in his letter-complaint addressed to Comelec provincial officer Lionel Castillano, said "in previous election our electorate suffered great injustice for her inaction on glaring violation of election laws committed by the Illustrisimos."

Zaspa also alleged that Gigante is a close relative of one of the Illustrisimos candidates for councilor, Renato Saagundo, and vice mayoralty candidate Celso Espenosa.

"This is more than enough ground for her partiality specifically on this hotly-contested election in the municipality," Zaspa said.

But in a separate interview with reporters, Gigante denied she is biased.

"To me, this is purely harassment to the person. Mura man hinuon sila og desperado uy. I really don''t know why they are doing this to me," Gigante said, adding that she is also a distant relative of Zaspas.

Gigante said she will formally submit her response to Castillano within five days and vowed to follow whatever is the decision of the Comelec officer.

Last Tuesday, Zaspa sought the disqualification of the Illustrisimos for allegedly committing "threats, intimidation, terrorism, use of fraudulent device or other forms of coercion."

Zaspa attached to his complaint the affidavits of five men who claimed the Illustrisimos and their men "committed acts in violation of the Omnibus Election Code and were likewise blottered before the police station". - Garry B. Lao/BRP