Ibuna hits petition vs special polls as politically motivated

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The petition of an election lawyer before the Supreme Court to stop the scheduled June 2 special poll in the 5th District of Negros Occidental is “politically motivated,” according to Grace Ibuna, partner of the late congressman Iggy Arroyo.

Ibuna said she perceived the move “as being dictated by some people who will stand to benefit from a no-election.” She however refused to name names.

Romulo Macalintal, through his lawyer Antonio Carlos Bautista, filed last Thursday at the SC a petition to stop the June 2 special poll in the 5th District saying “it is illegal because it will be held beyond the period as provided for by law.”

In a 22-page petition, Macalintal cited Section 4 of Republic Act 7166 (Synchronized National and Local Elections Law), which provides that special elections to fill a vacancy in the House “shall be called and held not earlier than 60 days nor longer than 90 days after the occurrence of the vacancy.”

He argued: “Since Arroyo died on Jan. 26, the earliest date such special election could be held was last March 26 – the 60th day after the occurrence of the vacancy…The latest date it could be held would be on April 25 – the 90th day after the occurrence of such vacancy.”

Ibuna countered however by saying, “This is now the administration’s ball. If they push for a special election, we will follow the law. There should be law and order.”

When asked if she had already abandoned Iggy’s plans for her to run for representative of the 5th District, Ibuna said, “Not really.” Meantime, she had been rallying for support for Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol, the most probable candidate in the special polls endorsed by the Liberal Party and the United Negros Alliance.

“I really intend to help Bebot (Mirasol’s nickname). I am fighting this fight with Bebot,” said Ibuna on Mirasol whose possible bid could only be contended so far by his nephew, Provincial Board Member Emilio Yulo III.

In a related development, Comelec preparations for the special polls are now going on as scheduled, despite the Macalintal petition.

Negros Occidental provincial election supervisor Jesse Suarez said, “There is no order from Manila that we stop our activities pertaining to the special election so we go on with these to be ready for the June 2 special poll.”

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, for his part, said the Comelec does not share Macalintal’s opinion, and it believes that the Supreme Court will not grant his petition.

Pending the resolution of his petition, Macalintal has also asked the High Court to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent Comelec from disbursing funds for the special poll.

Suarez however said the Comelec already spent almost half of the P21.6-million budget for the electoral exercise. The voters’ lists for posting, watchers’ identification cards, Comelec passes and forms for the Board of Election Inspectors in the 5th District have already arrived, he said.

Only the official ballots are lacking as these usually arrive two to three days before the holding of the election, he said, adding that the printing of the poll materials are expected to be completed next week.

Comelec set the election period of the special poll runs from April 18 to June 17, the filing of certificates of candidacy on May 14 to 16, and the campaign period from May 17 to 31. —(FREEMAN)