High voter turnout despite minor glitches: Brgy polls smooth, peaceful – Comelec

CEBU, Philippines - Despite reports of flying voters, vote-buying, and voters having difficulty finding their names on the voters’ lists, the conduct of the barangay elections yesterday was generally peaceful, according to officials of the Commission on Elections.

Comelec 7 chairman Temie Lambino said the barangay polls in the region was successful, except for Bohol where the elections were suspended due to the earthquake last October 15.

“All the precincts functioned in this October 28’s barangay elections,” Lambino said in a press conference.

Comelec Commissioner Ma. Gracia Cielo Padaca, who facilitated the polls at the voting center for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens at the SM City Cebu, said voter turnout for the barangay elections in the region is expected to be higher than the turnout in the May 2013 midterm elections.

“Historically, may three percent higher turnout of votes kapag barangay elections,” said Padaca, adding that more votes were cast yesterday since there are now 54 million voters nationwide, compared to last May’s 52 million.

Voter turnout in Cebu province for the May 2013 elections was at 82 percent. Cebu has over 2.5 million voters with a total of 7, 599 clustered precincts.

Lambino said the Comelec is expected to proclaim a total of 1, 894 barangay captains and 13, 258 councilmen from all over the region.

Cebu City

The barangay elections in Cebu City went smoothly with no major glitches according to the election officers in the north and south district.

Cebu City South District election officer Atty. Edwin Cadungog said it is hard to compare last May’s automated elections and yesterday’s manual barangay elections.

“It should be taken into consideration that midterm elections tong sa May and this is barangay elections. This one is more actively participated because people are more conversant with the candidates running,” Cadungog said.

He added that while the voting ended early with the manual system, it’s a different story when it comes to counting and canvassing.

“The problem with manual is the appreciation because daghan man questions profounded with the manual. Whereas sa automated, dali ra kay machine man ang mubasa and mu-count,” he said.

North District election officer Atty. Marchel Sarno also noted a generally peaceful conduct of the barangay elections. “Naay mga lalis but normal ra man na,” he said.

In Barangay Kalunasan for example, voters at a polling center complained about the presence of “flying voters” after noticing that the voters’ list had names of people they do not know. Those who complained said the situation stopped the voting process.

Lilia Ramirez of the BET, however, said that everything was under control and they are just following the instructions of the Comelec.

“Kana sir ang instruction sa COMELEC, kung unsay naa sa Election Day Computerized Voters List (EDCVL) and Posted Computerized Voters List (PCVL), mao ra gyod na among pabutaron,” she stressed.

Another voter from Kalunasan also expressed dismay over the voting process after finding out that someone voted using her name.

“Kita pabotaron ta. Pero unsaon nato pag-vote nga naa na man didto nakapirma sa atong lugar nga adto ta dapat mo-sign,” she said.

Meanwhile, Jail Management Consultant Marco Toral of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) said inmates were able to vote on time.

“On time naabot ang voters list. Ang COMELEC dri man sab sila. So far, peaceful man ang process sa voting,” he added.

Cebu City South District has a total of 310,830 registered voters with 865 clustered precincts. The North District, on the other hand, has 256,091 voters with 692 clustered precincts.

Province and Metro Cities

Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano, meanwhile said the augmentation of police forces helped in addressing some problems such as the reported delay in the opening of precincts in Barangay Amancion, Catmon due to the alleged presence of five armed men who threatened voters and the Board of Election Tellers (BET).

“So far walay dagko nga panghitabo…so far walay patay nga election related,” he said.

In Mandue City, police chief Sr./Supt. Petronelli Baldebrin said no untoward incidents were reported except for complaints of campaigning inside a polling center in Barangay Opao, and poll watchers in barangays Centro and Mantuyong wearing “Kaabag” T-shirts.

Kaabag is one of the non-government organizations helping the city government in the implementation of programs like the yearly horror booth, wherein the proceeds go to the city’s indigent children. An official from the Kaabag Foundation said it is already beyond their control if some candidates identified with the administration call their teams “Kaabag.”

In Lapu-Lapu City, police and Comelec officials reported minor incidents but these, they said, did not affect the conduct of elections.

Among the incidents reported were complaints from voters who could not find their names on the master list and the alleged death threats from a group who said they were members of the New People’s Army (NPA) sent to the BET and Board of Canvassers at the Pajo Elementary School.

The civilian guard of the school reportedly received a box from a man at around 3:50 p.m. last Friday and told him that the box contained letters for the Board of Election Tellers.

March Mandal, the chairman of the Barangay Board of Canvassers, said the letters were signed by one Ka Beting.

“Kami panahon sa election magbantay ug magtan-aw kami ninyo ug among gipangayo mao ang limpyo ug hapsay nga election. Kinahanglan ikaw naa sa tunga dili ka magpakita ug bias para walay kagubot, hinaot imo kining hatagan ug bili ang among gipangayo kay anaa ra kami sa palibot, Ka Biting,” the letter, which reportedly bore the logo of the NPA, said.

Chief Inspector Wilbert Parilla of the Lapu-Lapu Police Station 3, said after verification, they found out that the logo is not the same with the NPA logo. Two policemen were then assigned to the Pajo Elementary School to appease the teachers serving the elections.

In Lilo-an town, some voters aired concerns on the high possibility that someone could vote using their names since the members of the BET do not ask for identification cards from the voters. — with Mylen P. Manto, Michael H. Braga, Flor Z. Perolina, JOSE P. SOLLANO and AJ de la Torre/QSB (FREEMAN)