|
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Church leads rally against Lanao canvassing
By Lino Dela Cruz
Iligan Correspondent
ILIGAN CITY -- Thousands of people here and from the towns of Lanao del Norte heeded calls to join prayer rallies protesting the results of the canvassing of three controversial ballot boxes from three towns in Lanao del Norte.
The ballot boxes were allegedly tampered with and showed that a congressional candidate who ranked third in the National Movement for Free Election-Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (Namfrel-PPCRV) count now leads in the official tally after the contested ballot boxes were tabulated.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
View here the list of local winners
The Movement for Truth, Justice and Peace, led by Dr. Melchie Ambalong and with different sectors here including the clergy as members, marched towards the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office here Monday.
The rally was intended to show their indignation over the Comelec's failure to proclaim a winning congressional candidate for Lanao del Norte's 1st district.
The Provincial Board of Canvassers had insisted on canvassing the allegedly tampered ballot boxes from the towns of Kauswagan, Bacolod, and Maigo in Lanao del Norte, which was described by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as having been forcibly opened.
In the canvassing of the allegedly tampered results of the Certificates of Canvass (COCs) from the three towns, congressional candidate and Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Dimaporo showed that she garnered a total of 26,213 votes.
However, when these were compared to the authenticated copies of the COCs in the possession of the Namfrel-PPCRV and Liberal Party (LP), Dimaporo got only 8,253 votes.
The indignation march is intended to call the attention of the canvassers and the Comelec en banc to be fair in their appreciation of the result of the election in the 1st district of Lanao del Norte.
Mayor Lawrence Cruz and some councilors here have joined the prayer rallies.
"We are not supporting any candidate but we are protecting the will and rights of the people," he said.
Some sectors are now calling on Dimaporo to concede. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (June 5, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
US advisory warns v. travel in North Cotabato