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Monday, June 21, 2004
Political crisis looms in Kalinga town
By Harley Palangchao
BAGUIO CITY -- A political crisis looms in Tinglayan town in Kalinga as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to decide whether it would schedule for the third time special elections in two brangays.
On Sunday, Comelec Regional Director Armando Velasco reported they are still waiting for the decision of the Comelec central office regarding his report that the second special elections in Barangays Tulgao East and West failed to materialize on June 7.
With only nine days left before winners in the May 10 polls must be sworn into office, a political crisis is likely to take place in Tinglayan if no single candidate would be proclaimed there on June 30.
Velasco, however, said the governor-elect in Kalinga province has the authority to appoint a temporary administrator or an officer-in-charge, pending the order of the Comelec central office.
Dominador Belac is the governor-elect in Kalinga.
Belac, who defeated incumbent Kalinga Gov. Macario Duguiang with more than 1,000 votes, is also now the subject of an election protest filed before the Comelec central office.
Velasco expressed optimism that the Comelec central office, led by Commissioner Florentino Tuazon Jr. (who is the officer-in-charge for the Ilocos and Cordillera regions), would resolve the political deadlock in Tinglayan.
The scheduled special elections in barangays Tulgao East and West in Tinglayan on May 7 and June 7 failed to materialize due to strong resistance by the villagers, who claimed they are satisfied with the results of the recent May 10 polls.
Special polls were set after supporters of a mayoralty candidate reportedly snatched a number of election returns and ballot boxes from at least 11 precincts there on May 11.
A failure of special elections in barangays Tulgao East and West was declared even as heavily armed policemen and soldiers were deployed to the area on June 7 to supposedly conduct the elections.
(June 21, 2004 issue)
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