Protests in two barangays stall OSCA elections

CEBU, Philippines - Protests in two Cebu City barangays are stalling the search for the new head of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).

Jeffrey Ocampo, Executive Assistant of the Mayor who is assigned at OSCA, said there are election protests in barangays Pahina Central and Guadalupe that they are still fixing so they can proceed with the election for the Top 10 nominees for OSCA Chief.

The protests were lodged against the two winning candidates of Pahina Central and Guadalupe who are supposed to represent the respective barangays to the election of the Top 10.

Ocampo said that the winning candidate of Pahina Central was questioned for his eligibility to be a candidate because he has been a leader of the Senior Citizens group in the said barangay for only a year.

But Ocampo said that the qualification says only that the candidate must be a member of the organized group for three years, which does not necessarily mean that he must or she must also be a leader of the group for three years.

The protest was lodged by the defeated candidate who got only four votes less than the winning candidate.

Ocampo said they are trying to fix the matter now so they can soon schedule the election.

In barangay Guadalupe, the first winning candidate was disqualified because he is presently a barangay councilman.

Ocampo said that according to the rules, he must resign first from being a councilman before he can actually be a nominee. Besides, Ocampo said, his election violated the procedure because there was no OSCA representative during the voting process.

Another election was conducted but the new winning candidate was questioned for her educational attainment.

Ocampo said that some questioned her capability to lead because some do not believe that she graduated even from high school. She was asked to present her diploma or any proof that she at least graduated high school.

According to policy, the candidate for the next OSCA head must at least be a high school graduate.

Once the complaints in these two barangays have been resolved, Ocampo said they will immediately set the schedule for the next election.

After choosing the top 10 candidates, there will be another election to narrow down the selection to three prospects.

The top three candidates will become nominees for the position whose names will be submitted to the Mayor who will choose the next OSCA head.

Ocampo said they expect to have a new OSCA head by the third week of November.

      The new OSCA head shall fill the vacuum that was left by Guillermo Casinillo whose term expired in the middle of this year. — (FREEMAN)