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Wednesday, June 13, 2007
2 town officials, 4 others charged with arson
By Reynaldo G. Navales
MABALACAT -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) filed arson cases Tuesday against two officials and four utility workers of this town in connection with the burning of ballots in this town last week.
Inspector Jimmy Suba, municipal fire marshal, said those charged are municipal treasurer Angelito Pelayo, maintenance chief Jess Dungca, and the four workers including one Rommel Sibal.
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He withheld the identity of the three other suspects pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Municipal Treasurer's Office headed by Pelayo is the property custodian of all election materials and is responsible for the safety of the ballots.
Pelayo refused to issue any statement regarding the criminal case file against him by the BFP.
Of the 399 ballot boxes containing the alleged contested votes cast during the last elections here, 164 were razed in a fire that broke out at the town hall storage room at dawn of June 7.
Losing gubernatorial candidate Lilia Pineda had filed an electoral case before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) national office in Manila and sought a recount of votes in some towns including Mabalacat and Apalit.
Pineda lost to Fr. Eddie Panlilio by only 1,147 votes.
Aside from Pineda, businessman Anthony Dee and his running mate Victor Tiglao also filed two separate cases before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Angeles City.
Dee lost to mayor-elect Marino Boking Morales by 750 votes while Tiglao lost to vice mayor-elect Prospero Lagman by more than 1,000 votes.
The RTC on May 25 ordered the transfer of the ballot boxes and these were about to be transported in the afternoon of June 7 when the fire broke out.
Senior Superintendent Keith Ernald Ll. Singian said an arson case has no bail as it is considered a heinous crime under the Revised Penal Code.
Scores of town folks trooped to the town hall on Tuesday and denounced the burning of the ballots and accused Morales of being behind the incident.
Morales had earlier denied involvement in the burning of the ballot boxes. "Why should I do that? I was elected mayor of the town," he said. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (June 13, 2007 issue)
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