‘No poll advice outside office’

Any advice sought from Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials should be done inside their office, not outside.

Cebu provincial election supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said this in response to a Cebu Daily News story and photo that showed Cebu City Comelec officer Marchel Sarno having lunch  in a restaurant on Sept. 22 with  Cordova mayoralty aspirant Rex Wakee Salud, the boxing promoter who is facing a disqualification case over his lack of residency.

“We are covered by the Code of Conduct for Public Officials. Comelec does not condone any irregularity. Anyone is welcome to file a complaint,” Castillano told CDN in a phone interview from Manila where he was on official business.

He stopped short of saying Sarno had violated  Comelec policies or the law. He said Comelec officials aren’t prohibited from giving advice to candidates.

“It’s true that anybody can give advice. Pero official and dating if it’s in the office.  Lahi ang perception sa tao if it’s a public place.”

(It would look official if it’s done in the office. The perception is unfavorable if the meeting is done in a public place).

Comelec Regional Director Temie Lambino said he tasked Castillano to investigate the incident.

He said he would  issue a memorandum to all election supervisors in Central Visayas not to entertain election queries outside their offices.

Lambino said he believed the issue had to do with delicadeza and ethics.

“I don’t hink there’s a law (which was violated). It’s more on ethical considerations.  That’s why I have to look at the extent of the allegation.”

The lunch, which Sarno said was “a chance meeting” took place in  Shabu Way restaurant in Parkmall, Mandaue City.

At the time a lower court ruled against Salud’s appeal concerning his residency in Cordova town.

Salud filed his candidacy for mayor in Cordova town last week despite an adverse  ruling by the Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy, who is seeking reelection,  questioned the propriety of the lunch meeting between Sarno and Salud.

Sarno, in a separate interview, there was “nothing to hide” and nothing irregular about the meeting.

As Cebu City north district election officer Sarno said he can’t influence Salud’s voter’s registration or candidacy in Cordova town.

He said he was merely answering Salud’s  questions about residency requirements and that there  was no prohibition about giving an  opinion outside the  office.

“If there’s a prohibition they can cite that any advice should be given in an office,  then I am wrong. If an ethics issue comes out then I will answer that,” Sarno said.

Sarno said the boxing promoter’s  case is in court, and he’s  confident it won’t reach his office to decide.

Salud lost his appeal in  the Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 11 which rejeced his voter’s registration in Cordova.

Applications for transfer of voter’s registration will be heard by the Comelec registration board within the area Salud proposes to vote which is in Cordova town.

Sarno told Cebu Daily News that a candidate may not necessarily be a registered voter when he  filed his candidacy bid.

He said the reckoning  of the six-month residency of a candidate would count six months before the election. The deadline for application for voters registration is on October 31.

Lambino, who’s in Manila, said he felt sorry for  Sarno and believed  the lunch meeting was unplanned but that Sarno should explain  his conduct. “The meeting leaves a bad taste in the mouth,” the regional Comelec chief said. With a report from Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan