San Fernando opposition sees no need for Comelec control

THE opposition bloc of San Fernando objects to the proposal of Mayor Lakambini Reluya to put the town under Commission on Elections (Comelec) control.

“What for?” asked Vice Mayor Antonio Canoy and his complete slate in a press conference. Canoy and Reluya will face off in the May 2010 elections for the mayoral post.

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Mayor Reluya maintained yesterday San Fernando town should be placed under Comelec control “to get the real voice of the people here.”

Placing the town under the poll body’s control will also avert violence, especially in the hillyland areas, she said.

Reluya said she will update the Comelec about the political situation in San Fernando for the poll body’s assessment.

“I’ll hold a meeting with my leaders for our data-gathering to get an update,” she said.

Old rivalry

Reluya is backed by Rep. Eduardo Gullas’s (Cebu, 1st district) Alayon, while Canoy is running under the Liberal Party.

Because Gullas is allegedly out to discredit him, Canoy said his group may support congressional candidate Luna Sabalones of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

“It’s possible (that we will support Sabalones), because she is from San Fernando. We have never been allied with Gullas because he wants me to lose,” said Canoy.

Reluya said it is understandable that the Canoys will support Sabalones, a congressional aspirant, because she is backing the reelection bid of Gullas.

Reluya said that a relative of Vice Mayor Canoy intimidated the residents of Sitio Pit-os, Lantawan, a hillyland village, by brandishing a high-powered firearm before the gun ban took effect.

A former San Fernando mayor for nine straight years, Canoy is attempting a comeback as the town’s chief executive.

In the 2007 elections, Reluya defeated Canoy’s wife Renee by 40 votes. (Term limits barred Antonio from seeking reelection that year.)

Reasons

Reluya, in an earlier interview with Sun.Star Super-balita, said she wants San Fernando placed under Comelec control because of the presence of goons. She mentioned a certain Chokoy and Allan who were seen roaming across her house. These men, she said, are known to be supporters of Canoy.
Canoy admitted the two men are his supporters.

But his son, Councilor Miguel Antonio Canoy, who is running for vice mayor, said, “That is a figment of her imagination.” He referred to the allegedly threatening presence of the men near Reluya’s house.

“There is no need to declare the town a hotspot because we don’t want the town to be painted as dangerous,” Councilor Neil Enriquez said in Bisaya.

An area can be declared under Comelec control because of intense political rivalry, presence of rebels or history of election violence. Enriquez said that even the town police would say San Fernando has a low crime rate.