BOPK says ballots ‘not handled well’

CEBU, Philippines - The Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) has claimed ballots that were the subject of an election protest by former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña were “not properly handled” prior to their transport to Manila.

In a press conference he called in his house in Guadalupe, Cebu City yesterday, Osmeña presented a certain Evelyn Benabente, who said ballots were re-clustered and “consolidated” with other clustered precints.

She was introduced as official representative of BOPK during the inspection of the contested ballots before they were sent to Manila this week for the recount following the election protest.

“We found out about this after conducting an inventory prior to transporting these ballots to Comelec Manila. We learned that ballots from Precinct No. 410 in (Barangay) Inayawan were consolidated with (Precincts) 404, 405, and 406. Another ballot box from (Barangay) Guadalupe, 384, was also consolidated with 396, 369, 379, and 395. These made me very surprised,” Benabente said.

The inventory was in preparation for the sealing right before the ballot boxes were transported to Comelec Manila Tuesday afternoon.

Osmeña also showed reporters a communication signed by South District Election Officer Edwin Cadungog and North District Election Officer Marchel Sarno informing “concerned candidates” that the ballots were not deposited in the proper place.

“Said ballots were erroneously deposited at the office of the undersigned election officers,” part of the Aug. 28 letter read.

The letter also read that scanned ballots from 25 clustered precincts would be moved from the Comelec Cebu City office to the office of the City Treasurer, who is the supposed custodian of the ballots.

Osmena asked why it took so long for the said ballots to be transferred.

In a telephone interview, Sarno said he is not in the position to comment since he was reshuffled to Toledo City.

Atty. Ferdinand Gujilde, head of the Cebu City board of canvassers and the south district election officer during the May 13 elections, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Mayor Michael Rama, on the other hand, washed his hands over the claim, saying he does not have anything to do with the supposed irregularities and was not even expecting an electoral protest from Osmeña.

Osmena said his lawyer is still contemplating on the credibility of the “mishandled ballots.”

“I really don’t know how to address the situation.  I am just hoping

for the best.  I just wanted to point this out for the people to know.

What we can do now is to follow through with the protest and we will see what happens next,” Osmena said. (FREEMAN)