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Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Armed cops fail to get 4 ballot boxes from Bogo City
CEBU CITY -- Around 300 angry supporters of the Martinez family prevented a team from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) from taking into custody ballot boxes stored at the Bogo City Hall.
Their actions went for naught, however, because Benhur Salimbangon was proclaimed the winner in the fourth district congressional race.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
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Boos and jeers were hurled at Comelec Cebu City North District Election Officer Marchel Sarno and CPPO Director Carmelo Valmoria as they tried to get hold of the ballot boxes.
The two officials were ordered to take the boxes by the special board of canvassers (SBOC) in Manila.
A stampede nearly occurred as supporters snatched a ballot box that Sarno was planning to safeguard.
A shouting match also ensued between Bogo City Mayor Celestino "Junie" Martinez, Sarno and Valmoria earlier in the day, when they could not agree on how to implement the order.
Sarno and Valmoria were ordered by SBOC Chairman Eddie Aba to take custody of the election returns (ERs) from precincts 62A, 19D, 117A and 119B.
Martinez, however, refused to let the team bring the ballot boxes containing the ERs, saying he did not recognize Aba's authority.
Martinez said he would only let them leave with the boxes if they can show him a written order from the Comelec en banc.
Valmoria and Sarno received the orders last Sunday yet. Valmoria immediately sent a team from the CPPO to secure the ballot boxes. The team left Cebu City for Bogo and tried to locate City Treasurer Rhett Minguez, who had custody of the ERs.
Minguez could not be found in his residence and in his office, but staff members said the ballot boxes were stored at the general services office (GSO).
Police and the Comelec learned that the ERs for precincts 119B and 62A were already at the Comelec office in Bogo and that the ERs for precincts 117A and 19D were in the ballot boxes stored inside the GSO.
The argument began when a policeman was ordered to climb inside the locked GSO at the Bogo City Hall, where ballot boxes containing ERs were reportedly stored.
When police went to check the GSO, traffic enforcers occupying the office beside it said the staff left to "clean the streets."
Sarno said that since his order was to take custody of the ballot boxes, they should enter the office.
Valmoria then ordered a policeman from the special reaction unit to check through an opening whether he could see any ballot boxes inside. He then ordered the policeman to enter through the opening and unlock the door.
At this, legal consultant and former vice mayor Vicente Rodriguez appeared and questioned the police.
"What are you doing? You are like robbers. You should wait for the people in charge of this office to open it for you," he told Sarno.
When Sarno explained that he had an order from Aba directing him to take custody of the ballot boxes, Rodriguez argued that they did not have to destroy anything.
Sarno then said he did not want to get into an argument about the legalities of the order and instead, urged Rodriguez to file a complaint if he had any problems with the implementation.
At this, Martinez arrived and accused them of illegally entering the office.
Valmoria then interjected and explained they were there to support any order issued by the Comelec and enforce the law "without fear or favor."
Martinez questioned Valmoria, asking him why he was implementing an order that "is illegal."
"What law are you talking about? He (Sarno) is taking an illegal order from someone who has no authority," Martinez told Valmoria.
He also said he will not allow Comelec to get away with this. He explained that the last time the ballot boxes were transferred it was also illegal because it lacked the authority of the Comelec en banc. However, he said they let it go because they did not want any trouble.
This time, though, he said he will refuse any attempt because they were being treated unfairly.
He also told everyone who had entered the GSO to "get out."
At this, Valmoria replied, "Please do not shout at me."
To ease the tension, Valmoria and Sarno retreated to the Comelec office where Sarno called Aba and informed him of the incident.
At 12:44 p.m., Aba issued another order and faxed it to them.
"To ensure the compliance of the order of this board dated July 8, you are given full authority to order the arrest of any person who will prevent or put any obstacle in the retrieval/delivery of said ballot boxes referred to in the herein mentioned order.
"You are further given the authority to use reasonable force of destruction for the purpose of gaining entrance into any premises in the pursuit of complying the task mandated to you. Failure on your part to comply with this order shall be severely dealt with by this board," the order read.
When police returned a second time around 1 p.m. they were met with more resistance as the door to the GSO was blocked by traffic enforcers and Martinez supporters.
Martinez said if the authorities did not want any trouble, they should present an order from the Comelec en banc and they will willingly let them go with the boxes.
Another shouting match ensued, this time, with his supporters chanting and jeering at the police and Comelec team.
The tension led Valmoria and Sarno to pull out one ballot box already at the Comelec Bogo office containing the ERs of precincts 119B and 62A to safeguard it.
However, a mob of supporters numbering about 500 blocked police, Sarno and the media.
One of them then snatched the ballot box from Sarno's possession and brought it to the second floor of City Hall. (MEA of Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (July 10 2007 issue)
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