THE fates of 14 candidates in seven barangays in Cebu Province will have to be determined through a coin toss or a drawing of lots after they got the same number of votes in last Monday’s elections.
Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, the provincial election supervisor, said that the seven barangays include one each in Alcantara, Catmon and Sogod; and two each from Malabuyoc and San Fernando.
Only Alcantara has so far broken the tie through a drawing of lots, a local poll official said yesterday.
Alcantara’s election officer, Sheila Nuñez, said they also settled a tie between two candidates for barangay councilor who got the same number of votes for the seventh spot in Barangay Salagmaya.
In San Fernando, local election officer Renante Angcos said he plans to meet with candidates from Barangays Sangat and Lantawan today to also settle the tie between barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan candidates there.
In Barangay Sangat, two candidates for SK member got the same number of votes, as did two candidates for barangay councilor in Lantawan.
Angcos said he has yet to determine what method will be used to resolve the tie between the four candidates.
Under Section 71 of Comelec Resolution 9030, a poll race resulting in a tie “shall, by resolution, and upon five days notice to all candidates concerned, hold a special public meeting in which the [Barangay Boards of Canvassers] shall proceed to draw the lots between the candidates who have tied and proclaim as election the candidates who may be favored by luck...”
A coin toss can also be used to break a tie.
Castillano said the seven barangays are among 10 barangays in Cebu Province that have yet to conclude their elections due to delays in the canvassing of votes or due to a tie between two candidates.
As of yesterday, around 99.70 percent of Cebu’s towns and cities, including the highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, have already announced their winning candidates, Castillano added. (JKV)