Term-sharing for ABC prexy in San Remigio?

CEBU, Philippines – Two candidates for president of the Association of Barangay Councils in San Remigio have agreed to a term-sharing scheme after they tied in the election last Tuesday.

Barangay Argawanon Captain Conrado Loon and Jaime Vistar of Canagahan tied with 13 votes each during the ABC elections after one vote was declared invalid because it was written in the position for vice president.

Instead of the traditional toss coin to break the tie, the two candidates agreed to share the presidency.

Loon will serve the first half of the three-year term while Vistar will serve the other half.

But, Mayor Jay Olivar said they are contesting the result to count as valid the strayed vote for Loon, his ally, to prevent the sharing scheme as much as possible.

The Department of Interior and Local Government sees no legal impediment of the term-sharing arrangement.

DILG-7 director Pedro Noval, Jr. said that the department respects the agreement reached by both parties.

He, however, warned to make the agreement in writing to avoid troubles in the future when the other party will breach the agreement.

Noval said this is the first time that a tie was resolved by an agreement of term-sharing. He said the practice, in most cases, is to resolve it through a toss coin.

Section 240 of the Omnibus Election Code provides for the drawing of lots in case two or more electoral candidates garner the same or equal highest number of votes, with luck-favored candidate to be proclaimed winner. (FREEMAN)