Garcia vs Yapha HRET to EOs: Submit election documents

CEBU, Philippines - The House of Representative Electoral Tribunal (HRET) has ordered all the election officers in the third district to turn over the election documents and paraphernalia used in the May 13 elections in line with the election protest filed by defeated congressional candidate Geraldine Yapha against Representative Gwendolyn Garcia.

In an order dated November 25, HRET specifically wants the election officers to turn over the Book of  Voters, Election Day Computerized Voters List, and other election paraphernalia.

The order was made after the head of the Tribunal Collection Team reported that the election officers in some municipalities in the third district “refused to turn over the election documents and paraphernalia in their custody allegedly pursuant to the instruction of the provincial election supervisor.”

Election officers were notified through a letter from the tribunal dated June 10, 2013 directing them to preserve and prepare the election documents and paraphernalia in all the polling precincts used in the local and national elections.

 â€œIt thus comes as a surprise why the concerned Election Officers did not communicate to the Tribunal whatever problems they may have, if any, which prevent them from turning over said documents to the Tribunal,” the order read.

The collection of ballots and election documents and paraphernalia commenced on November 19, 2013 and is still ongoing.

Further, “the Election officers who fail to comply with this Order shall be required to deliver said documents to the Tribunal’s office at their own expense.”

Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde said that the office of the provincial COMELEC will issue an order to the concerned municipalities in the third district as soon as possible. The third district is composed of Asturias,Tuburan,  Balamban, Barili, Pinamungajan, and Toledo City. It has 305, 952 registered voters during the midterm polls.

Yapha earlier filed an election protest against Garcia claiming that there were 41, 858 stray ballots that were not counted.  Yapha lost by 1,984 votes against Garcia.— (FREEMAN)