Tension moves canvassing from Buot-Taup to City Hall

CEBU, Philippines – Tension between parties led teachers at the Sergio Osmeña Sr. Elementary School in Barangay Buot-Taup, Cebu City to move for the transfer of the canvassing of votes to the Cebu City Hall yesterday dawn.

The camp of incumbent Barangay Captain Rechie Sibla accused the camp of challenger and winning candidate Rosalita Callino of deploying flying voters.

Cebu City south district Election Officer Edwin Cadungog said supporters of Sibla further alleged that Callino asked some people to vote under the names of people who are already dead but are still in the list of registered voters.

Cadungog said they verified the list of names being protested against. However, they were not able to find even one in the Election Day Computerized Voters List (EDCVL) or in the Posted Computerized Voters List (PCVL).

When they also counted and reconciled the number of ballots and the number of persons who actually voted, both have the same figures.

Because of these, supporters of Sibla did not allow teachers in some precincts to go out of the room to submit their tally sheets to the Board of Canvassers (BOC).

Past midnight, the BOC called Cadungog and requested for transfer to the City Hall. They arrived at the social hall at 3 a.m. and started the canvassing by 4 a.m.

Of the 1,264 actual votes cast, Sibla garnered 615 votes as against the 624 votes earned by Callino.

Cadungog said the close competition explains the tension.

It was too close for Sibla had the court, in its September 17, 2010-decision, refused to grant the petition for exclusion in the voter's list of Buot-Taup, filed by Callino against 72 individuals who did not meet the residency requirement of Comelec when they registered as voters of the said barangay.

These 72 individuals were allegedly supporters of Sibla but are not residents of the barangay when they registered at the Comelec.

In Barangay Luz last night, a supporter of a losing candidate allegedly shut down the power in the voting center while canvassing was ongoing.

People also accused the barangay secretary of taking the ballots but it was found later that the secretary only took the election returns for safekeeping.

In Barangay Labangon, some supporters of a losing candidate blocked the barangay bus from taking the ballot boxes to the City Hall.

Tension also ruled supporters of opposing parties in Barangay San Roque when power went out at the Cebu Technological University allegedly caused by a supporter of incumbent captain and winning candidate Rogelio Ruizo.

Boy Miranda, who lost to Ruizo, threatened to file an election protest.

Cadungog said that those intending to file election protests may do so within 10 days from the proclamation.

While the election is generally peaceful, he cited some areas for improvement like the improvement in the listing that should be in alphabetical order and the provision of locator maps for precincts. (FREEMAN)