Armed backers of Promdi bet disrupt Toledo canvass

CEBU — Bloodshed nearly broke out in Toledo City the other day when armed Abag-Promdi supporters stormed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office, manhandled two members of the board of canvassers, and had a tense standoff with police and soldiers, the guns on either side all cocked and ready.

Toledo election officer Federico Sanchez said four men barged into the session hall at about 11 a.m. to demand a halt to the canvass, alleging massive fraud was being committed to favor rival Alayon candidates.

Sanchez identified them as Luis Espina, Boboy Rafols, Joe "Bebbie" Rodriguez and Juanito Alferez, all supporters of local Abag-Promdi candidates.

Two of the men held Sanchez and schools superintendent Jose Cabantan by their necks.

Rafols, a brother of Abag-Promdi mayoral aspirant Ricardo Rafols, pulled out a caliber .45 pistol, prompting poll watchers and tabulators to scamper for safety.

Sanchez said the armed men told the canvassers they would not be harmed if the canvassing was immediately stopped.

One of the suspects reportedly grabbed a chair and threatened to hurl it at the canvassers before throwing it on the floor. The commotion alerted a group of policemen who were on guard duty downstairs.

When the policemen rushed upstairs to check, they saw the four armed men on their way out of the session hall. It was at this point that Rafols allegedly aimed his gun at one of the responding policeman, SPO1 Victor Alcover, and a shootout nearly occurred.

Police chief Augustin Lloveras said when he reached the alley leading to the session hall, he met a woman carrying three brown envelopes containing election returns.

"The woman went inside the office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod which is adjacent to the session hall. I followed her and when I got inside the SP office, I personally saw Ric Rafols sitting on the chair of the SP secretary, looking down on his sister and another woman tearing up the election returns into pieces," Lloveras said.

According to Lloveras, the four men were able to get away. He said they still have to check whether the four have a clearance from the Comelec to carry guns as the gun ban is still in effect until June 13.

Lloveras said he will be willing to testify about what he saw, if the Comelec will ask him.

"I will testify. This is my responsibility," he said.

Sanchez said he will leave it up to higher Comelec officials to decide on what to do about the incident.

Sanchez denied accusations that he was conniving with Sen. John Osmeña, and that massive fraud was committed in the counting and tabulation of votes in the city.

Lloveras and Sanchez both believe mayoral candidate Ricardo Rafols was behind the storming of the canvassing area.

Rafols, however, said it was never his party’s intention to harass the people involved in the canvassing.

"I admit I sent the four men, but it was to protect the Comelec officers there, after I saw other groups of armed men (in the) canvassing area. I also saw the people tearing the election returns," he said.

More than 500 people, mostly supporters of Abag- Promdi, have been picketing the Toledo City Hall since May 16, asking the Comelec to suspend the canvassing.

Despite the clamor to stop the canvassing, Abag-Promdi congressional candidate Jose Soberano said the board proceeded with the canvass.

Soberano and Ricardo Rafols both said their party will ask the Comelec to declare a failure of elections in Toledo because of alleged massive election fraud.

Sanchez later reconvened the board of canvassers and they decided to transfer the canvassing to the Comelec regional office in Cebu City.

Sanchez said the board has canvassed elections returns from 244 out of the city’s 398 precincts, but he refused to say who were leading in the races for local positions. — Freeman News Service