Daanbantayan folk "barricade" town hall

CEBU, Philippines - Thousands of supporters of Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura and his mother, Vice Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot yesterday converged at the municipal building to prevent a possible take over, as a representative from the Commission on Elections First Division formally served a copy of its recent resolution on the two officials.

Loot said they have formally received the resolution that dismissed their petition for certiorari questioning the order of the Regional Trial Court in Bogo City declaring  Augusto Corro and his running mate Dr. Jose de Leon as  the elected mayor and vice mayor of Daanbantayan.

She said at least 3,000 of their supporters voluntarily gathered at the municipal building to prevent Corro and de Leon from taking over.

Corro and de Leon were earlier quoted as saying that they will already assume within the week. Loot said this was what her supporters are trying to prevent because the decision is not yet final.

In fact, Loot said their lawyer in Manila, Sixto Brillantes, already prepared a motion for reconsideration, which they will file in five days.

Loot threatened that violence is inevitable if Corro and De Leon insist in taking over.

“Kun moinsister gyud sila mabuk-an gyud sila og ulo sa akong mga suporters,” Loot said over dyLA.

She appealed to the people in Daanbantayan not to listen to the statements of Corro that they are already taking over.

The 15-page joint resolution signed by Presiding Commissioner Rene Sarmiento and Commissioners Armando Velasco and Gregorio Larrazabal supports the order of Bogo City RTC Branch 61 Presiding Judge Antonio Marigomen declaring Corro and de Leon as winners of the May 14, 2007 elections.

Corro ran as mayor against Shimura while de Leon ran as vice mayor against Loot.

The court’s recount of the votes showed that Corro got 13,915 votes against Shimura who had 10,524 votes.

In the elections, Shimura was declared winner with 15,800 votes over Corro’s 13,707.

The court’s findings also showed de Leon with 12,903 votes against Loot, who got 11,592 votes. These were however questioned by Loot saying that the ballots subjected to the recount were already tainted after the court in Bogo City where the ballot boxes were kept was allegedly ransacked. — Fred P. Languido/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)