Friday, July 06, 2007 Benhur vows to charge those who falsified Bogo returns
FOURTH district congressional candidate Benhur Salimbangon will file charges against all those involved in “manufacturing” the 15 fake election returns (ER) from Bogo.
Among those he will charge in court are Bogo Municipal Treasurer Rhett Menguez, Bogo Election Officer Jose Menguez and assistant election officer Mylene Pitogo. Election forms are supposed to be received by the treasurer.
Salimbangon alleged that for years, these officials have been manipulating the election returns in Bogo.
The congressional aspirant said he was vindicated after the Second Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruled that the 15 remaining ERs were “spurious and manufactured.”
Among the evidence the Comelec cited in its resolution were affidavits gathered from teachers who served as election inspectors last May 14. They said that the certificates of votes given to Salimbangon’s watchers were accurate.
The Salimbangon camp has consistently said that some of the ERs were fake.
Anywhere
Salimbangon isn’t objecting to the Comelec’s order to conduct the canvassing of votes in Manila. “As long as they follow the resolution of the Second Division, bahala na og asa (the venue doesn’t matter).”
Meanwhile, the camp of congressional candidate Celestino Martinez III is still confident of winning.
Lawyer Inocencio dela Serna said they already filed a petition before the commission, where they asked that the almost 10,000 stray ballots be counted in favor of Martinez.
They filed the petition after the commission ruled that another candidate, Edilito Martinez, was not qualified for the province’s fourth district congressional seat. (As a result of his candidacy, votes marked only “Martinez” were considered stray.)
Dela Serna also said they will be filing today a petition for certiorari, injunction and mandamus before the Supreme Court, after the Second Division ordered for the canvassing to resume, using other authentic documents.
Though the police have not heard of any plan to create trouble in Cebu’s fourth district as a result of the impending canvassing of votes in Manila, authorities are preparing for such eventualities.
Repercussions
Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Carmelo Valmoria said a standby force is in place at their headquarters.
“As of the moment, we do not see any problems because the venue is in Manila. But we anticipate repercussions as an offshoot of the canvassing and possibly the proclamation,” Valmoria told reporters.
Valmoria was one of those who recommended that the canvassing and proclamation be done in Manila and not in Cebu, saying their experience the last time was too chaotic. He appealed to supporters from both camps to remain calm.
Supporters from the camps of Salimbangon and Martinez had occupied the street outside the Commission on Elections regional office, after canvassing was transferred from the Provincial Capitol building.
Before that, the canvassing was held at the municipal hall in Bogo but, two days after the election, it was transferred to the Provincial Capitol because of the tension.
“We will need to deploy personnel and it would cause discomfort to the public,” Valmoria explained.
The canvassing has been transferred to Manila but the subtask group created for the elections in the fourth district has not yet been deactivated.
The subtask group, led by Supt. Erson Digal, is currently on standby at the CPPO but Valmoria said they can be dispatched immediately.
For its part, the subtask group in Bantayan island was deactivated last Tuesday.
Headed by Chief Insp. Julian Entoma, the group was a composite team with members from the Regional Mobile Group, Provincial Mobile Group and the Special Reaction Unit.
Bantayan Island was placed under Comelec control in the May 14 polls due to intense political rivalry and the presence of armed men. (KNT/MEA)
