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Sunday, June 27, 2004
Guv asks PB to alert Comelec
By Minerva B. Gerodias
CEBU CITY -- The end remains uncertain six weeks after the Cebuanos cast their ballots to choose the next governor of Cebu.
To avoid chaos and a power vacuum in the Capitol, winning provincial officials in the May 10 polls must be proclaimed before June 30, Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia said.
He announced in his speech Friday, during the testimonial dinner in his honor, that he is asking the Provincial Board to pass a resolution addressed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
This will ask Comelec to direct the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) to resume the count and proclaim the winners.
"I hope this will happen on Monday or Tuesday, before June 30. Otherwise, there will be chaos somewhat in the Capitol," the governor said in his speech.
The PB is scheduled to hold its last session Monday.
Garcia is optimistic his daughter Gwendolyn will be proclaimed winner.
The camps of Gwendolyn and her closest rival Celestino "Junie" Martinez Jr. have filed appeals before Comelec in Manila after the PBOC excluded from the tally the certificates of canvass of 11 towns and three cities.
Both the Garcia and Martinez camps had protested these certificates of canvass over allegations of vote-padding and other forms of cheating.
But Provincial Election Officer Edwin Cadungog has said that for sure, a new governor will sit in the Capitol on June 30.
Just in case
He cited Section 16 of the Omnibus Election Code: "All pre-proclamation cases pending before the commission shall be deemed terminated at the beginning of the term of the office involved and the rulings of the board of canvassers concerned shall be deemed affirmed without prejudice to the filing of a regular election protest by the aggrieved party."
Garcia said he already told the PB members that they should urge the Comelec to dispose of the cases filed before the body so that the canvassing can resume and the provincial officials can be proclaimed.
Also during his speech, the governor asked all casual, contractual and coterminous employees not to report for work after June 30 to avoid complications.
This is because all their appointments will be terminated as the new officials start their tenure.
Garcia said he already issued a memorandum to this effect.
(June 27, 2004 issue)
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