Comelec grants Soco's motion for retrieval of 195 precincts

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Elections Second Division has ordered the collection and retrieval of all the priority precincts of Mandaue City and the Municipality of Consolacion that were claimed by vice-gubernatorial candidate Glenn Anthony Soco in his election protest against Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr.

The order signed by Comelec Presiding Commissioner Lucenito Tagle dated April 19 was received by Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano yesterday.

Castillano is ordered to collect and retrieve all the 195 clustered precincts of Mandaue City and Clustered Precincts Nos. 1,6,20, 22 and 29 of the Municipality of Conso-lacion.

The Comelec Second Division granted the manifestation with motion filed by Soco on April 15, 2011 praying for the retrieval of his 20 percent identified priority precincts.

Castillano is also ordered to notify the parties who may wish to send their representatives to accompany the delivery to Comelec Philpost Ware-house within 10 days.

Castillano said he is now coordinating Cebu Provincial Police Office director, Senior Supt. Patrocinio Commendador in providing security to protect the safety and integrity of the ballot boxes.

The provincial election supervisor is authorized to secure a sufficient number of security personnel from the retrieval up to the time the ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia are delivered.

The Comelec also directed the treasurers of Mandaue City and Consolacion to accommodate and give their utmost support to the PES regarding the retrieval of protestant’s priority precincts.

The order said that Soco shall provide the needed vehicles to the PES for the gathering and transportation of the subject ballot boxes from Cebu to Manila.

“All expenses for the retrieval and transportation of the said ballot boxes shall be borne by protestant,” the order said.

Moreover, Soco will also shoulder the travel expenses and per diems and necessary allowance of Comelec and the police and military personnel acting as security while the parties to shoulder expenses of their respective counsels and watchers.  

The Comelec Second Division has declared Sanchez “in default” after he failed to show up in a preliminary conference sometime on July last year and for his failure to submit his preliminary conference brief in an election protest filed by Soco.

Soco is protesting the result of votes cast for the position of vice governor in all the precincts in the entire province. He got 517,687 votes as opposed to Sanchez’s 543,924 votes. –(FREEMAN)