‘Help keep brgy elections safe’

IT may not command the same attention as national-level elections, but Cebuano voters can expect some violence and violations in today’s barangay elections, a top Commission on Elections (Comelec) official said yesterday.

“Most of the candidates in the barangay elections are relatives, close friends and neighbors and voters forget these close ties,” Comelec Commissioner Grace Padaca told reporters.

Padaca, who’s in Cebu to attend the send-off ceremonies for troops assigned in the province, called on candidates to help keep the peace in today’s polls.

She said Filipinos should vote in the barangay elections because they can shape their government at the grassroots level.

“Thank God that we have elections every three years. Thank God that we always have the opportunity to change the face of the government,” said Padaca, a former Isabela governor.

There were reported cases of vote-buying and harassment in the cities of Talisay and Mandaue over the weekend.

Two women were apprehended for allegedly offering cash in exchange for votes for their favored candidate.

Mary Ann Geraga, 19, and Edita Alo, 49, both residents of barangay San Isidro were brought by Xyrus Allan Bucao, 31, and Clint Gonzaga to the Talisay City police precinct on vote-buying charges.

Geraga and Alo were reportedly supporting Dehlia Bacaltos-Tiu, a former Talisay City mayor. Taken from Geraga were 44 sample ballots with P150 in cash enclosed. While 22 sample ballots were taken from Alo. They were released yesterday.

Bucao and Gonzaga were advised to file a complaint against them before the Comelec-Talisay City office.

In Mandaue City, supporters of re-electionist barangay Banilad chairman Dianne Bercede-Abanes claimed they were harassed and threatened with eviction by their landlord if they did not vote for opposition candidate Greg Yap.

The lot in sitio Lower Sampaguita is owned by Hope Baga and her husband, incumbent barangay councilor, Alfonso ‘Boy’ Baga.

Hope denied the allegation, saying they posted a guard at the two entry points to their land to prevent vote-buying. Correspondents Michelle Joy L. Padayhag and Christine Emily L. Pantaleon and Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos

Commission on Elections (Comelec)