Tuesday, May 15, 2007 Votes for slain poll bet go to daughter-in-law?
VOTES for a slain Sta. Fe mayoral candidate were reportedly counted in favor of his daughter-in-law.
This prompted the rival Zaspa camp to threaten a protest.
Ballots carrying the name “Docdoc” were allegedly counted in favor of 33-year-old mayoral bet Jennifer Ilustrisimo in Sta. Fe town in Bantayan Island in northern Cebu.
Jennifer replaced her father-in-law Rogelio “Docdoc” Ilustrisimo Sr. in the race, after the elder Ilustrisimo was gunned down outside the Commission on Elections provincial office at the Capitol compound in Cebu City last May 2.
Rogelio and his son, incumbent Sta. Fe Mayor Roger Ilustrisimo, were attending a hearing on the disqualification case filed by Rogelio’s rival Domingo Zaspa when the fatal shooting happened.
Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano, in a separate interview, said the ballots carrying the name “Docdoc” cannot be credited to Jennifer.
In Sta. Fe, Zaspa’s son, who was arrested for possession of a firearm at a checkpoint, was released along seven other companions.
This was after Jerson Dabo, 37, admitted it was his gun that was found under the driver’s seat of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac pickup.
Dabo executed an affidavit saying the .45 pistol loaded with six bullets was his and that his companions were unaware he placed it there.
Protection
Dabo was at the back of the pickup when police caught them at the checkpoint last Sunday night.
Sta. Fe police chief, Insp. Jose Rovic Villarin, said they had no choice but to release the others.
Dabo, who remained at the Sta. Fe police station detention cell yesterday, told reporters he needed the gun for protection.
Despite this admission, Zaspa’s camp said everyone in the pickup did not know how the firearm got inside the vehicle.
Lawyer Isaias Guidu-quio, who is representing Zaspa, said the group had been out for a while and left the doors of the vehicle unlocked.
He believes Dabo was just confused and could not fully explain the presence of the firearm.
Villarin said, though, it was Dabo who admitted the offense yesterday morning.
His admission was made in the presence of lawyer Jessie Capoy. (MEA/JGA)
