Comelec: 4 bets are violators

TWO City Council re-electionists and two congressional aspirants in Cagayan de Oro could face disqualification for posting campaign materials outside the Commission on Elections (Comelec) designated poster areas, an election officer Tuesday said.

Lawyer Gina Luna Z. Sabio, city election officer said, she has given the four candidates at least three days to remove their campaign posters and streamers posted outside the designated areas or face disqualification proceedings.

The three-day deadline for the removal of the posters ends Wednesday.

Sabio was referring to re-electionist Councilors Ramon G. Tabor and President D. Elipe, and Jose Benjamin A. Benaldo and Lourdes Candy R. Darimbang, who are both gunning for the first congressional district of the city.

"Actually, I don't really need to name them. You just look outside your homes and offices and you'll know who they are," said Sabio while congratulating most of the local candidates that followed the postering rule.

Of the four, only Tabor replied a day after Sabio sent out the letters.

This paper tried to reach the four candidates by text messages and calls but none returned them.

In his reply letter, Sabio said, while showing this reporter the letter, Tabor requested a 10-day extension to Comelec's three-day deadline to remove all their campaign materials posted outside the designated poster areas.

"Tabor asked for a 10-day extension. But, I can't guarantee he will get the full term of what he is asking. I haven't included the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) in the three-day deadline, so they should have a good head start," Sabio said adding she has yet to deliberate on Tabor's request.

Tabor allegedly threatened a local journalist claiming he was singled out and that the news article seriously undermined his campaign. He can't be reached for comment at press time.

Gold Star Daily correspondent Jigger J. Jerusalem said an angry Tabor called him over the weekend threatening to make his life "harder" unless he "rectified" his news article regarding the campaign posters issue.

"I did not know what he meant by saying he'd make my life harder but I shudder at the thought," said Jerusalem.

National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) secretary general Rowena C. Paraan, who was in town for a workshop and election of officers for its local chapter, went to Gold Star Daily's office to document Jerusalem's statements. The members and officers of NUJP Cagayan de Oro chapter take Tabor's call as a clear threat.

"We must not let this pass," newly elected NUJP-CDO chair Arturo C. Bonjoc, Jr, ABS-CBN Northern Mindanao news program director said.

"He's (Tabor's posters) all over. We should be the one to tell him that we can make his life difficult if he doesn't comply (with Comelec's postering rule)," Ed J. Montalvan, publisher and editor of a local weekly, The Mindanao Current, said.

Newly-elected NUJP board of director member Uriel Quilinguing, for his part, attested the veracity that Tabor's posters were "indiscriminately" placed.

Sabio agreed explaining that it was Tabor's posters and streamers, not Jerusalem, that jeopardized his campaign.

"His (Tabor) posters have singled him out," said Sabio.