Monday, August 25, 2008 Corro, de Leon gather supporters, declare themselves as ‘duly-elected’ officials
DAANBANTAYAN mayoralty bet Augusto “Itok” Corro and vice mayoralty candidate Jose de Leon Jr. yesterday declared themselves before hundreds of supporters the town’s “duly elected” top two officials in the 2007 elections.
“Sa decision nga gipakanaog sa huwes, gimando niya nga kini inyong higala mao’y duly elected mayor sa atong pinalanggang lungsod og si (Jose) de Leon maoy duly elected vice mayor sa Daanbantayan,” Corro told his supporters in a rally inside his compound in Barangay Poblacion.
He also accused Loot of being behind the killing of his ally Reinerio Arrogante III.
“Atong hinumduman nga human sa piniliay gipatay diha sa iyang tugkaran akong higala og midagan pagka konsehal si Reinerio Arrogante. Atubangan sa iyang asawa og anak, pipusil patay si Arrogante. Kahinumduman si Arrogante mipasaka og kaso batok sa migtiayong Loot (Remember that after the elections, Reinerio Arrogante was shot dead in front of his office while talking to his wife and son. Remember that Arrogante filed a case against the Loots,” Corro said.
Corro said he would never allow he same incident to happen again in Daanbantayan.
“Maghiniusa ta, magmalinawon ta. Mag-amping ta. Husto na, sobra na,” he added (We should unite and maintain the peace. The violations should end now).
Corro, De Leon and close to 300 supporters yesterday offered a “thanksgiving mass,” which was celebrated by Fr. Alvin Raypan.
In his homily, Raypan called for a peaceful resolution of the political conflict in the town. The priest reminded town officials that when people chose their leaders, God also ordained them.
Raypan said elected public officials should be servants of God and people, adding that they must also serve even their political opponents.
At least five members of the Special Reaction Unit and 10 police trainees were deployed to secure the town.
After the mass, Corro, De Leon and their supporters marched to the mayoralty bet’s residence.
At Corro’s residence, a giant tarpaulin hung at the gate bearing congratulatory messages.
When sought for comment, Vice Mayor Malou Loot told Sun.Star Cebu they were unfazed by the rally launched by Corro and his supporters.
Loot said they will just wait for the court ruling on the joint motion for writ of execution filed by Corro and De Leon, which will be heard tomorrow in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Bogo City.
Even if the court issues a favorable ruling to the opposition camp, Loot said they will still have time to file a temporary restraining order to stop the order from being implemented.
The incumbent vice mayor said they are willing to elevate the case before the Commission on Election (Comelec) Central Office and even to the Supreme Court, if needed.
She expressed confidence that she and her son, Mayor Sun Shimura, will finish their term until 2010.
Loot also revealed that about 10,000 of their supporters will hold a rally today to show their support for them.
In Thursday last week, Corro claimed victory in the election protest he filed against Shimura before the RTC in Bogo City.
During last year’s elections, Shimura had a majority of almost 3,000 votes against Corro. But in the court decision, Corro won by a margin of 3,391 votes.
Election results said Loot had a majority of almost 5,000 votes against de Leon. But in the court decision, de Leon was said to have won by 1,311 votes against Loot.
RTC Branch 61 Judge Antonio Marigomen said, in his ruling, that Corro had a total of 13,915 votes while Shimura had 10,524 votes. De Leon got 12,903 votes while Loot, the former mayor, got 11,592 votes.
Corro and de Leon said have already asked the court to implement its decision. Shimura and Loot have filed an appeal.
Corro earlier advised his rival and his mother to peacefully turn over the municipal government to them once the court will issue the execution of judgment.
But Loot vowed not to vacate the office, saying that the teachers who served in the Board of Election Inspectors during the counting of the ballots at the precinct level will testify there was no fraud in the May 2007 elections.
Loot pointed out that her son got 15,800 votes while Corro only got 13,706.
This is reflected in the Statement of Votes by Precincts as well as the Certificate of Proclamation.
She also won as vice mayor with 16,520 votes while de Leon got 12,773.
In his speech during yesterday’s rally, Corro told his supporters that they finally obtained justice when the court gave due course to his election protest against Shimura
and Loot.
Corro also criticized Loot for alleging that he tried to influence the court proceedings, saying it was actually his opponents who tried to manipulate the results of the protest.
However, Corro said all of their attempts proved futile when the court issued a ruling in his favor.
“Tataw nga dako’ng tikas and nahitabo sa miaging election. Tataw nga dakong panglinla ang gibuhat sa atong mga kaatbang. Tataw nga wa nila gi-respetohan ang pagbuot sa mayoriya. Tataw nga wa nila paminawa and tingog sa mayoriya,” Corro said. (It’s clear that they cheated in the last elections. They did not respect the decision of the majority). (GMD)
