Taguig politicians still in grip of election fever

MANILA, Philippines - Outgoing mayor and congressman-elect Sigfrido Tiñga accused yesterday the camp of Mayor-elect Laarni Cayetano of “early politicking,” after she criticized the transfer of the ballot boxes to the city’s auditorium last week.

In a statement, Tiñga said he could not understand why Cayetano’s camp is complaining against the transfer “when they are the ones who demanded it in the first place.”

Tiñga claimed that in letters dated May 14 and May 18, Cayetano’s lawyer Jose Luis Montales asked acting city treasurer Crispina Espedido to move the ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia to “an area of the city hall.”

The transfer was done on May 21 under the watch of Teresita Elias, who assumed Espedido’s post. Elias is the wife of newly re-elected Vice Mayor George Elias, the running mate of mayoral candidate Dante Tiñga, the father of the outgoing mayor.

Montales, in a separate interview with The STAR, denied making the request. He said they merely asked for the ballots to be “secured.”

“The move was made unilaterally,” he said, adding there was no sufficient notice given to their camp and other poll watchers.

Last Monday, Montales said they filed charges against Elias before the Comelec, saying they believe that the move was a “serious violation of election laws.”

“We see an inherent conflict of interest here since she is the wife of the vice mayor and the custodian at the same time,” Montales said.

The complaint also said that the move violated Section 23 of Republic Act 8436, as amended by RA 9369, which provides that “the election officer and the treasurer of the city/municipality as deputy of the Commission (on Elections or Comelec) shall have joint custody and accountability of the official ballots, accountable forms and other election documents as well as ballot boxes containing the official ballot cast.”

Elias, for her part, said the transfer was “legitimate” and that the Comelec; the Nacionalista Party, to which the Cayetanos are allied; and other poll watchers were informed of the transfer.