Comelec asked: Declare town under control
-A A +AFriday, October 5, 2012
CITING intense political rivalry, former mayor Lakambini Reluya of San Fernando, Cebu urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to place the town under their control.
Lakambini and her husband, Panadtaran Barangay Captain Ricardo Reluya, told reporters that they see the need to declare San Fernando under Comelec control, not just a hotspot, because of the rivalry between them and the group of incumbent Mayor Antonio Canoy.
Canoy, in a separate interview, said that declaring San Fernando under Comelec control is unnecessary. He accused the Reluyas to be ones causing violence in their town.
The Reluyas said they were prompted to raise the matter because of their experience during the 2010 national and local elections that was allegedly marred by violence.
They said the poll-related incidents in 2010 were allegedly initiated by Canoy and his allies.
They Reluyas, who are allied with the Alayon Party of Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, first district), are reportedly running against Canoy and his son, Vice Mayor Miguel Antonio Canoy, in the 2013 polls. The Canoys are affiliated with the Liberal Party.
In the 2010 elections, both parties have traded allegations of deploying armed men not only to intimidate the candidates but to harass the supporters, as well.
Case
The 2010 polls in San Fernando were also marred by allegations of poll fraud, which led the Reluyas to file a case against Canoy.
The case is still pending in court.
Canoy, in a separate interview, denied that his group initiated the political violence in their town. He said it was during Lakambini’s stint when election-related violence happened.
Canoy said when he was town mayor from 1998 to 2007, the elections in his town were particularly peaceful. Lakambini became town mayor after defeating Canoy’s wife, Renee, in the 2007 elections.
Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said declaring an area under its control would only serve as a “last resort.”
He said declaring a town, like San Fernando, under Comelec control should only be done after the assessment made by the police and the military.
A resolution from the Comelec en banc must be also made to declare the area under its control, Castillano said.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 05, 2012.
Local news
Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!
