Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Barangay chiefs troop to hall to back leader
LOYALISTS of incumbent Barangay Captain Ma. Adelaida Restauro trooped to the San Isidro Barangay Hall, Talisay City yesterday in anticipation to the reported assumption of her political rival this week.
The show of force is seen as a means to block Marietta Bucao from assuming the village’s top elective post.
But Restauro told Sun.Star Cebu that her followers were there only for moral support, not to engage in violence if Bucao insists to take over her post.
In last Saturday’s press conference, Bucao announced that she was set to take the helm of Barangay San Isidro after the Commission on Election (Comelec), in its recent resolution, dismissed Restauro’s petitions for certiorari.
The petitions questioned the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Mario Manayon’s twin orders declaring Bucao as a poll winner with 68 votes in last year’s barangay polls and granting execution pending appeal.
Government
Bucao said, though, that she still has to get a letter order from the Department of Interior and Local Government authorizing her to sit as barangay captain.
Bucao protested the results of the Oct. 29 barangay elections in San Isidro because of alleged poll irregularities in favor of her opponent, Restauro.
Poll results showed that Restauro won by 14 votes, getting 1,404 votes over Bucao’s 1,390.
Their candidacies were backed by their husbands, City Councilors Alan Bucao and Sergio Restauro.
In last May’s promulgation, Manayon declared Bucao as the duly elected barangay captain after a recount showed that she garnered 1,432 votes over Restauro’s 1,364, a winning margin of 68 votes.
Reconsideration
However, Restauro stood pat that the dismissal of her filed petitions does not absolutely authorize Bucao to replace her as the village chief.
Apart from filing a motion for reconsideration before the Comelec first division this week, Restauro said there has been no order from the poll body revoking its earlier order for a status quo.
The status quo mandates her to stay in her post until further orders from the Comelec hierarchy.
Restauro added that even if the Comelec en banc decides in her opponent’s favor, she still has the option to question it before the High Tribunal.
(GC)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (September 30, 2008 issue)
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