Defeated Inayawan bets file poll protest

CEBU, Philippines – Defeated candidates in Barangay Inayawan filed an election protest before the Municipal Trial Court in the Cities, citing alleged irregularities in the recent conduct of the barangay and SK elections.

Jerome Jaca, candidate for barangay captain and his councilors, who included mediaman Samson Costanilla, together with Apollo Delfin, Rodrigo Ocampo, Mario Abar, Felix Eturma, Jesusa Berido and Cecilia Castañares filed a protest against winning barangay captain Rustico Ignacio and the seven members of his barangay council.

Both camps claimed to be allied with the City Hall administration party, Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan. 

In their complaint, Jaca and his slate said the anomalies happened in their barangay during the elections prompted them to seek the assistance of the court.

"We prayed that after due hearing and after revision or recounting of votes, tabulation of election returns, exclusion of voters who are not actual residents of Inayawan that Jaca will be declared as barangay captain and other protestants as councilman," they said.

On October 26, a day after the barangay and SK elections, the board of canvassers declared Ignacio and his allies as winners for barangay captain and council members, respectively.

The protestants said massive fraud and irregularities happened in all 40 clustered precincts of the barangay during the conduct of the elections and the casting and counting of votes.

"In all clustered precincts the anomalies were committed by Ignacio, Quimada, Villarea, Labaya, Ocampo, Soon, Comendador, Rama and their supporters when some people voted for other registered voters," they added.

They said some people, who already died a long time ago, had their names still appeared in the registered voters' list and were still able to cast their votes. They added some people, who were not real residents of the barangay were able to register there and voted there.

"Hundreds of such voters voted in the last barangay election, resulting in the altercation of the true will of the actual residents/voters of Inayawan," they said.

Protestants added that supporters of Ignacio and others were seen and even captured on video recording allegedly distributing "yellow cards" containing names of Ignacio and his slate inside the polling place.

They also said that even the principal of Inayawan Elementary School and the chairperson of the board of canvassers were biased for Ignacio's group and were seen their hands and shouting during the canvassing when Ignacio and his slate were leading in the counting.

Jaca's camp likewise claimed there were massive vote buying perpetuated by Ignacio's during the election. (FREEMAN)