La Union poll supervisor relieved over missing COCs

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has relieved the provincial election supervisor here pending an investigation into the loss of a number of certificates of canvass (COCs) used during the May 14 elections.

Sought for his comment on his relief, lawyer Marino Salas said, “I respect the en banc decision just like a soldier who obeys the order of his superior.”

Salas’ relief stemmed from the loss in mid-July of COCs from the towns of Agoo, Bauang, Aringay, Rosario, Luna, Bangar and Sto. Tomas, and this city.

The ballot boxes containing the COCs were forcibly opened and the original documents were replaced with fake ones.

In what was suspected to be an inside job, a Comelec utility worker allegedly gave the original COCs to a defeated female mayoral candidate.

Salas clarified, though, that his relief was not a punishment but part of standard operating procedures pending an investigation.

Salas said the order relieving him from his position was approved last August but was implemented only this week because it had to be forwarded first to the Comelec’s law department.

Salas, replaced by lawyer Noli Pipo, was temporarily assigned at the regional Comelec office and would supervise the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.