LP wants Alegria under Comelec control

CEBU, Philippines - The Liberal Party is asking the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to put the town of Alegria under its control because of the presence of armed men in the area.

LP, through its lawyer Rex Fernandez, wrote to Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Eddie Aba informing him of the presence of a group called  RAGMAN who has been going around “threatening” members of their party.

Fernandez also accused Sandra Cocon, the  election officer of the town of being biased.

“The election officer of Alegria is a biased and partisan officer who is not worthy to hold office as an election officer of Alegria, Cebu. She has never given us prompt notice of election matters that should concern us considering that we are legal and valid applicant for candidacy for the said municipality,” Fernandez’s letter stated.

Fernandez also said the election officer failed to promptly give them copies of the list of Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) even if the teachers who will be serving in the 2013 elections already have their copies.

He also said that they have referred 12 registered voters but Cocon allegedly delisted them saying 11 out of 12 were unable to vote twice and that they were registered in another municipality.

“When we reviewed the EDCVL (Election Day Computerized Voters List) of the last presidential and local elections, we found out that these 12 voters voted in the last election,” the letter stated.

Aside from Cocon, Fernandez also complained that Assistant Election Officer Alan Sungcad showed “rudeness” to his clients.

But Aba explained to The FREEMAN that there must be massive intimidation and presence of armed group in a town before putting it under Comelec control.

Aba doubts if Alegria can be placed under Comelec control as he sees no problem in the municipality.

“If it’s small issues, we can settle it at our level. To place an area under Comelec control, it is the Comelec in Manila that will decide on it,” he added. —/MBG (FREEMAN)