Jun Pe applies to be South District voter

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Augustus “Jun” Pe Jr. made good on his word to transfer his voter registration to the south district in preparation for running again as a city councilor in the south.

Pe filed an application for a transfer of registration before the Commission on Elections south district office yesterday afternoon.

His application was personally received by election officer Edwin Cadungog.

His petition will be heard by the Election Registration Board on July 16. Had Pe been a week earlier in filing his application, he would have been included in the first batch of applications to be heard on April 16.

Those who want to oppose Pe’s transfer of registration have until July 16 to file a petition. They should file their opposition before the Election Registration Board consisting of the Election Officer, the City Treasurer and the Assistant Superintendent of the Department of Education.

Should Pe’s application be approved, Cadungog said it can no longer be contested.

Being a registered voter in the district where he plans to seek election is one of the pre-election requirements of the law. Cadungog said that to be a registered voter in the south, Pe must be a resident in the south for at least six months.

The residency requirement to be a candidate is different.

If Pe wishes to run, he must be an actual resident of the south district for at least one year.

Pe said he has been living in Guadalupe since 2009. Despite this, however, he said he has never abandoned his duties to the north district constituents.

When asked what made him decide to run, Pe said he will run in the south to continue his service.

“Obviously, my term is over but I still want to serve,” Pe said.

He said that his only option is to step aside since BOPK already has people running for congressman in the north district, vice mayor and mayor.

He also told his critics that his seeking reelection as a councilor in another district does not mean he is trying to hold on to power.

“In the first place, there is no power. Kinsa man nagtrabaho sa gobyerno na powerful? Mas powerful man siguro ang botante,” Pe said.

Pe admitted he is spending more time in the south than in the north. He explained that he wants to be familiarized with every sitio in the south and know their sentiments. – (FREEMAN)