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Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Town folk slam court ruling on poll winners
By Jujemay G. Awit
CEBU CITY -- Daanbantayan Vice Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot Monday warned supporters of her political rival they will not get help from the town government.
Loot issued the warning in front of her own supporters gathered at the town’s sports complex to protest a recent court ruling declaring Augusto Corro and Dr. Jose de Leon winners of the 2007 elections.
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“Dili tabangan ang nagsuporta kang Itok (Corro) kay kami fake kuno (We will not help Corro supporters if they insist we are fake),” Loot said.
“Adto lang mo’g munisipyo, dili na gyud ta mo tagdon hangtod sa 2010 (Just try asking for help at the municipal hall and I will snub you until 2010),” she said.
Loot said she does not fear a backlash since 70 percent of Daanbantayan residents are her supporters.
Corro, in a press statement, said the threat by Loot “just shows what kind of a person she is.”
An estimated 3,500 supporters showed up at the town’s sports complex to rally behind Loot and her son, Mayor Sun Shimura. The number fell short of the expected 10,000 supporters but more than the 300 that gathered for a prayer rally last Sunday in support of Corro.
‘Antics’
In a press statement, Corro accused Loot and Shimura of “resorting to the antics that they have been known for to try to hold on to the posts that they do not deserve.”
“We are a country of rules and laws and not of paid mobs. I urge the political dynasty of the Loots to respect the voice of the majority and the rule of law and not resort to making a Loot Juridical Entity of Daan Bantayan,” Corro said in an e-mail to Sun.Star Cebu.
In Monday’s rally, Loot accepted Corro’s challenge to a debate.
“Name the time and the place. Let’s have a debate in front of our supporters,” said Loot.
Loot, who was the town’s mayor for nine years, delivered a strongly-worded speech peppered with curses.
Representative Benhur Salimbangon also delivered a strong speech and called their opponents demons.
Salimbangon questioned the 8,311 votes that were slashed from the Shimura and Loot camp in the decision of Bogo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 61 Judge Antonio Marigomen.
Results
In the 2007 elections, Shimura was declared winner by a margin of 3,000 votes against Corro. The RTC decision reversed the results with Corro winning by 3,391 votes.
At the same time, Loot won by almost 5,000 votes against de Leon but the court decision showed the latter winning by more than 1,311 votes.
De Leon was Loot’s vice mayor for two terms.
Shimura, in his speech, said that if he and his mother were robbed even if they have money “what more for those who cannot afford?”
The Loots linked their rivals, the Martinezes, to their loss in the court ruling.
Former congresswoman Clavel Martinez, however, denied the allegation. She said while she was a member of the Commission on Appointments (CA) when Marigomen was appointed, his papers didn’t pass through the CA but through the Judicial and Bar Council.
Supporters, meanwhile, stressed they were not paid to join yesterday’s rally.
“I did not receive anything, not even five centavos. I’m just here to look after my vote,” said Carla Cometa in Bisaya. She was among those who stayed at the rally site under the sweltering heat of the sun.
“Wala mi bayari oi, kami paman gani nangitag i-plite dire (We weren’t paid, we even had to scrounge for our own fare in coming here),” said Prima Cañete.
There were at least three big trucks, two mini buses and other vehicles that transported the supporters.
Today, the lawyers of Shimura and Loot and Corro and de Leon will meet in court. Corro and de Leon plan to get the RTC to issue a writ of execution so they can sit as mayor and vice mayor of the town.
Corro said he met with Police Regional Office 7 Director Ronald Roderos and “I committed that I will not initiate any mass gathering/rallies that would create or magnify the tension between both camps that could result to hostility and dispute among the groups.”
Corro said he also committed not to take supporters with him when he goes to the RTC hearing Tuesday. (Sun.Star Cebu)
Related stories:
Loot camp out to sue judge
Rivals threaten to sue Loot over rally order
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (August 26, 2008 issue)
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