Wagas backers storm Compostela town hall

CEBU, Philippines - Around 200 supporters of mayoralty candidate Ritchie Wagas tried to hold a popular revolt last Wednesday, claiming PCOS manipulation by the camp of Mayor Joel Quiño and the Duranos in the fifth district.

After police barred them from entering the municipal hall premises, the protesters instead lay down on the street, affecting the traffic flow at the main highway.  The supporters left around 1 a.m.

Wagas defended what his supporters did.

“Dili ko kapugong sa mga tawo nga mo-express ug mo-exercise sa ilang katungod sa pagpadayag ngadto sa munisipyo mismo,” he said.

Wagas said that they should not be denied their constitutional and human rights by the military.

“Maayo unta gitagaan og democratic space para freely they can express their grievances and concerns mahitungod sa election,” Wagas said.

Around 6 p.m. last night a thanksgiving Mass and a “procession for truth” was held in Compostela by supporters of Wagas.

Wagas said the procession is aimed to call for a manual count of the result of the last election.

Before the popular revolt attempt, the municipal board of canvassers proclaimed Quiño, Josephine Abing and eight councilors.

Of the eight winning councilors, only one was from Wagas’ camp, Canamucan barangay captain Glenn Villaceran.

But one independent candidate, the brother of Mayor Quiño landed at number one while two of Quiño’s candidates lost.

Vindication

Quiño yesterday said the results of the May 13, 2013 elections vindicated his name and all his slate of the accusations of irregularities in 2010.

Quiño issued the statement in response to the move of the camp of Wagas who questioned the election results and massed in front of the municipal hall last Wednesday evening.

“Kon nakahimo sila ug mga maniobra sa miaging 2010 ato na kini nga gibantayan ug wala gayud sila magmalampuson,” said Quiño.

He also denied the accusation of Wagas’ camp of alleged irregularities during the recent elections.

“Wala gyud ko’y nadungog nga adunay mga kahiwian ug problema sa miaging piniliay,” said Quiño.

When the supporters of Wagas gathered in front of the municipal hall, Quiño said he was at the municipal hall witnessing the proclamation of the winning councilors.

Choice words

The former Department of Interior and Local Government 7 regional director who acted as caretaker of Compostela town wants the former mayor be permanently put behind bars for the latest incident.

“This wild man is the most radical of all Wagas siblings. Even more violent and vicious than his communist brother Gilbert Wagas,” Noval said on Facebook.

Noval suggested that both should be charged for disrupting election-related activities.

“Ritchie and Gilbert are assholes and scumbags of Compostela Society,” Noval added.

Last July 5, 2010, Noval assumed as acting mayor of Compostela town following the suspension of the proclamation of Quiño, his Vice Mayor Nenet Dangoy, and all the eight councilors of the municipality.

Noval served as acting mayor for over a year until he was transferred to DILG-8 and his successor continued until Quiño and the rest of elected officials were formally proclaimed on March 2012.

Added security

Around 40 personnel from the Provincial Public Safety Company of the Cebu Provincial Police Office were sent as an augmentation force to Compostela to secure peace and order.

Supt. Rodolfo Albotra, head of CPPO’s Provincial Intelligence Branch, said they made sure that some 300 supporters of Wagas would not create trouble.

Apart from the supporters’ desire to enter the municipal hall through the closed gate, there was no other commotion, said Albotra. But their lie-in protest caused traffic.

“Misimang nalang ang mga sakyanan aron makalusot sila,” said SPO2 Pedro Enriquez over dyLA. - /BRP (FREEMAN)