Security eyed for canvassing of votes in Compostela

ABOUT 30 policemen were assigned to secure  Compostela  town amid reports of another takeover attempt by followers of Mayor-elect Joel Quiño and the recanvassing of votes in last year’s elections.

Regional Director Pedro Noval Jr. of the Department of Interior and Local Governments in Central Visayas (DILG-7) said he has yet to receive the Commission on Elections (Comelec) order on the recanvassing of votes.

As this developed,  the camp of Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI of Cebu’s 5th district said they may file  a petition for certiorari on behalf of Quiño and his camp.

In a press statement, Durano said  that while complainant and former mayor Ritchie Wagas faced the burden of proving election irregularities, the Comelec sided with him and nullified the proclamation of Quiño and his council.

They said the main grounds for citing pre-proclamation controversies—illegal composition of the board of canvassers and illegal proceedings— were not raised in Wagas’ petition.

Provincial Comelec Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano called up the Comelec Second Division to verify the order of re-canvassing the votes.

Noval, the appointed  caretaker mayor of Compostela town, said he will request additional police personnel  if the need arises.

Noval placed Compostela town under red alert and assigned policemen to guard entrances of the municipal hall to avoid a repeat of last month’s short-lived takeover by Quiño and his followers.

Noval said no rallies will be held by either the camps of Quiño and former mayor Ritchie Wagas, who filed an election protest that prevented the mayor-elect and an entire council from assuming their posts.

Noval said both camps are allowed to witness the recanvassing process subject to Comelec guidelines.

Security will be provided to ensure no untoward incident between followers.

Former barangay Poblacion chief Rachel Wagas-Cañada told Cebu Daily News that her brother would have received the Comelec order by now.

Former mayor Wagas claimed discrepancies in the results of last year’s automated elections in the town.

The Comelec approved Wagas’ petition to nullify the proclamation of Quiño and the council, who were supposed to assume their posts on July 1, last year. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus