Zamora files poll protest vs Gomez

MANILA, Philippines – San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday to disqualify Mayor Guia Gomez for alleged massive cheating in the last elections.

Zamora said his lawyers would also file criminal and administrative charges against barangay and city hall officials and the local police for helping Gomez’s camp ensure his defeat.

“Those who were dead and unregistered voters were allowed to vote. There were numerous occurrences of rejected ballots and receipts not matching the votes casts,” Zamora said.

“Several registered voters were not able to vote because they could not find their names (in the voters’ list). They were transferred to other polling precincts,” he added.

Backed up by sworn affidavits of witnesses and video footage and photographs, Zamora filed the complaint against Gomez with the Comelec main office in Manila.

“The votes of the people of San Juan were stolen from us. We will be filing criminal and administrative charges against those involved in vote-buying,” he said.

Gomez defeated Zamora in the mayoral race by 1,233 votes.

Gomez was not surprised by Zamora’s poll protest.

She said it was the first time that her family was accused of cheating in the elections.

Gomez has a son – Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito -- with Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who is also facing a disqualification case with the Comelec.

Zamora claimed that in the early morning of May 9, seven kiosks were set up in 21 barangays in San Juan supposedly to give out porridge to the residents.

“The porridge served as a signal as the holder would then proceed to the houses of barangay officials where P1,000 were handed out to each voter,” said Zamora.

Gomez, however, denied that they resorted to vote-buying.

“We just provided food to our supporters. No money changed hands,” she said.