Court asked to remove 300 from Pasil voters’ list

Five residents of barangay Pasil in Cebu City are asking the court to exclude over 300 people from the voters’ list, claiming they don’t reside in the area.

In their petition, they said the respondents managed to register as residents of Pasil even if they could not be located within the barangay’s territorial jurisdiction.

During the registration period from July 22 to July 31, petitioners saw a certain Babelito Paculaba and John Abas and several companions facilitate the ferrying of people by the truckload to the Commission on Elections office.

Not residents

“The fact that the respondents are not actual residents of barangay Pasil for at least six months immediately preceding the forthcoming barangay elections on October 28, 2013 bars them from being registered and included in the Voters’ List,” the petitioners said.

They said the names of the respondents were already included in the actual Voters’ List of their respective barangays of origin and that they were qualified to vote and actually voted during the last May 13 elections.

“The fact that these numerous respondents did in fact manage to vote last May 13, 2013 at their respective barangays of origin could only mean that they were bona fide residents of said barangays as of May 13, 2013,” the petitioners said.

Also named respondents were Edwin Cadungog, Comelec election supervisor for Cebu City’s south district and the Election Registration Board (ERB).

Mandatory period

Aside from failing to comply with the mandatory six months period residency requirement, the 352 persons also allegedly didn’t reside in barangay Pasil as of this date.

“Excluding respondents from voting in Barangay Pasil will still allow them to vote in their barangays of origin where they are actual residents,” the petitioners said.

The petition is pending before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol