CEBU, Philippines - The residents of at least six barangays in Santa Fe town led by a candidate for mayor in the 2013 elections have petitioned for the relief of their election officer citing alleged biases in favor of the incumbent mayor.
Jose Esgana who is running for mayor under One Cebu Party against Mayor Jennifer Illustrisimo filed the petition before the regional office of the Commission on Elections last November 29.
The petition was also signed by hundreds of residents in different barangays of Santa Fe. There are 112 signatures from Barangay Maricaban, 150 from Barangay Okoy, 174 from Barangay Hilantagaan, 150 from Barangay Pooc, 258 from Barangay Ta-lisay and 205 from Barangay Poblacion.
A copy of the petition was also sent to Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes.
In the petition, they cited the 2010 elections wherein there was delay in the transmission of the results despite the computerization.
Another reason is that the mother of Gigante, barangay captain Dolores Gigante, of Poblacion, Santa Fe, is reportedly a supporter of Illustrisimo.
Esgana’s ally, fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon however claimed that Dolores is also his supporter.
Salimbangon said he is not aware of the petition but admitted having informed about it later.
Salimbangon was in Santa Fe during the weekend but he did not able to talk to Esgana who was in Manila.
Salimbangon said he wanted to know the reason why Esgana petitioned Gigante who served as election officer in the municipality for 15 years already.
Esgana also asked the Comelec for the reshuffling of the election officers to ensure honest and peaceful elections next year.
Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said he is not aware of the petition filed before the regional office.
Castillano however said there will be reshuffling of election officers as soon as their central office will order to do so before the May 13, 2013 elections. — Gregg M. Rubio with the report of Darrel A. Carumba of Banat News/FPL (FREEMAN)