A MULTISECTORAL group has signed a petition urging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to declare the May 10 automated elections in Cagayan de Oro a “failure” due to several reasons.
The petition, which was signed by known political figures, members of the religious sectors, professionals, local officials, youth, among others, expressed concerned on what happened in the last election in the city.
They cited the failure in the transmission of votes to the canvassing center, the hand-carrying of the flashcards, the delayed results from the Board of Canvassers’ (BOC) laptop and various election related glitches that also involved some of the board of election inspectors (BEI).
The petition cited the dumping of election paraphernalia at the landfill in Barangay Carmen as the biggest irregularity in the last election.
Because of this, the signatories of the petition are calling on the commissioners of the Comelec to take a leave and make necessary measures to rectify the flaws that have been committed, including the filing of criminal cases against the identified individuals responsible for the dumping of the election paraphernalia and those who made delayed admissions.
“So that the sacred electoral process will not again be trampled easily in Cagayan de Oro. The people’s true voice should be heard,” the petition said.
The petition was signed by former Cagayan de Oro congressman Erasmo Damasing, Abante Mindanao Representative Maximo Rodriguez, City councilors Edgar Cabanlas and Roger Abaday, former City Health Officer Dr. Vincent Tero and Fr. Nathaniel Lerio of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.
At least a thousand people also signed the petition. (Annabelle L. Ricalde)