Loot trusts manual more than PCOS

CEBU, Philippines - Outgoing Daanbantayan Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot may not run again if the next election will still be automated through the use of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machine.

Loot of the Nacionalista Party (NP) made the statement following her unexpected defeat to mayor-elect, Augusto Corro of the Liberal Party (LP) in the last elections.

“Maayo pa mano-mano, kung PCOS di nalang ta manglansar oy,” Loot said.

Loot has raised a continuing question on why she lost when Corro just arrived from abroad two weeks before the election day to campaign.

She also claimed that she has the organization and the support of 18 out of 20 barangay captains.

“Ako napildi? Asa ko dapit nasayop? Asa ko dapit nga dili ko botaran sa tawo nga in times sa akong pagserbisyo ang mga tawo naa nako, in time sa kampanya, ang bul-og sa mga tawo naa nako,” Loot said. (Why would I lose when during the campaign most of the people were with me, all this time while I’m in service the people have been with me.)

Corro garnered 18,101 votes against Loot who got 15,700 votes while his runningmate, vice mayor-elect Gilbert Arrabis Jr., also got 18,534 votes against Loot’s runningmate, incumbent Vice Mayor Renato Te, who got 13,462 votes.

Loot is hoping that Corro will sincerely serve the people when he still has existing contract abroad.

She claimed that her loss is not a downfall on her part but of the people of Daanbantayan knowing her legacy in the past 15 years of service.

“Dili ni downfall sa mga Loot kung dili sa mga tawo sa Daanbantayan,” she said.

Loot vowed not to leave politics and will make the next three years as civilian to draw more plans for 2016 elections.

Loot was first elected vice mayor in 1995, mayor in 1998, 2001 and 2004; vice mayor in 2007 and mayor in 2010 elections.

Corro lost to Loot’s son, Provincial Board Member Sun Shimura, in the mayoralty race when he first ran in 2007. Corro again lost in 2010 elections when he faced Loot in the mayoralty race.—(FREEMAN)