Quezon plebiscite peaceful - police

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – Police said last Saturday’s plebiscite in Quezon on the law proposing to divide the province into two – Quezon del Sur and Quezon del Norte – was generally peaceful.

Senior Superintendent Fidel Posadas, Quezon police director, said that despite some unconfirmed reports of vote buying, harassment, and disenfranchised voters, the plebiscite was orderly and peaceful.

Posadas said he placed the entire local police force on red alert during the plebiscite.

Groups supporting or opposing the divide-Quezon move both claimed massive vote-buying in Lucena City and Gumaca, Infanta and Candelaria towns.

Under Republic Act 9495, 17 towns in the first and second districts of the province will comprise Quezon del Norte, with Lucena City as the capital, while Quezon del Sur will be composed of 22 towns in the third and fourth districts, with Gumaca as the capital.

The Supreme Court has issued an order restraining the Commission on Elections from announcing the official plebiscite results. – Ed Amoroso, Michelle Zoleta