Thursday, April 26, 2007
Comelec scrambles to get venue
THE elections are just 18 days away, yet the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cebu City Office does not know where the canvassing of votes will be held.
Because of this, City Election Officer Marchel Sarno wrote a request to the Comelec en banc, through Commissioner Resureccion Borra, that they be allowed to use the Department of Education (DepEd) Ecotech Center in Sudlon, Lahug.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007
DepEd 7 Director Carolino Mordeno had told Sarno the Ecotech Center is booked for the days after the May 14 elections so the Comelec cannot use it for canvassing.
But the Comelec also cannot use the auditorium of the Cebu Normal University, where they conducted the canvassing in the 2004 elections. The school will be using it for review classes.
Sarno has also eyed the Metro Cebu Water District auditorium, but he decided against this because it’s on the eighth floor.
In his letter, Sarno informed the Comelec en banc that the Cebu City’s legislative building cannot be used for canvassing because it is being renovated.
The session hall is also too small for the 22 sub-canvassing committees.
Once the Comelec en banc grants his request, Sarno said DepEd would have to follow because refusing to do so could be an election offense.
In a separate issue, Sarno is giving barangay captains three days to remove illegal posters in common poster areas, or those that are more than two feet by three feet in size.
He is sending the memorandum today.
Section 3.3 of the Fair Elections Act of 2001 states that election propaganda made from paper, cloth, or cardboard posters should not exceed two by three feet.
Dimensions of streamers at the rally site or those announcing the public gathering should not exceed three by eight feet.
Failure to comply with the memorandum “will constrain Comelec to file election offenses and recommend administrative sanctions,” Sarno said. (RHM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 26, 2007 issue)
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