NCRPO: Village polls generally peaceful

Too young to understand what is going on but still curious, a boy stands on tiptoe to look at the ballot his father is filling out inside one of the polling precincts at P. Burgos Elementary School in Sta. Mesa, Manila. KIMBERLY DELA CRUZ

Generally peaceful with a few isolated “minor” incidents. This was how authorities described the conduct of barangay (village) elections in Metro Manila on Monday.

In Quezon City, the nephew of a candidate for barangay councilor was shot dead shortly after he cast his vote around noon.

The police, however, quickly clarified that they had yet to determine whether the killing of Bayani Tabirao, a relative of Alexander Tabirao, was related to Monday’s elections.

Alexander is eyeing a seat for councilor in Barangay Sto. Domingo, which was earlier declared an area of concern by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCPRO).

According to Supt. Osmundo de Guzman of the Quezon City Police District, the victim was shot twice in the nape on Florentino Street as he was walking home from Angelicum College where he had cast his vote.

His alleged killers, however, were caught after one of them was cornered. They were identified as Oscar Ogena, Mark Khristopher Lee and James Mendoza.

In Pasay City, supporters of a barangay chair running for reelection were injured when they were beaten up by around 20 still unidentified men.

Southern Police District director Chief Supt. Jose Erwin Villacorte said the attackers were carrying knives and brass knuckles when they forced their way into the campaign headquarters of Barangay 79 chair Dexter Mangorangca at 10:45 a.m. on Monday.

Politicians led by Sen. Nancy Binay and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada cast their votes under the watchful eyes of election volunteers and media.

According to Pasay officer-in-charge Senior Supt. Michael Filart, they were looking for the armed men who did not harm Mangorangca although three supporters were injured, including one who sustained a stab wound. The armed men also smashed one of the windows of the barangay’s service vehicle, a police report said.

Despite the two incidents, NCRPO director Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr. said the barangay polls in Metro Manila were “generally peaceful.”

He attributed this to the deployment of district and regional police inspection teams to poll precincts and “increased vigilance during the canvassing of votes.”

The NCRPO chief went around several precincts in the metropolis on Monday where he encountered people who complained about flying voters or not finding their names on the official list of qualified voters.

A wheelchair-bound voter at J. P. Laurel High School in Quezon City ticks off her choices

In Caloocan, six people were brought to the police headquarters after they were suspected of being flying voters.

City police chief Senior Supt.  Bernard Tambaoan, however, said that the six who were arrested at E. Rodriguez Elementary School in Barangay 96 were later released. This was after a check with the local Commission on Elections office showed that they were registered voters in the barangay although they had moved out of the area recently.

In Navotas, two people were arrested; one for vote-buying and the other for selling his vote for P320.

City police chief Senior Supt. Conrado Gongon identified the two as Laura Moreno and Ronnie Rontalo who were both arrested outside Navotas National High School.

Gongon said that Moreno, a supporter of a candidate for barangay chair in Barangay Sipac-Almacen, was facing vote-buying charges after she was found to have paid Rontalo P320 for his vote.

Rontalo, on the other hand, was caught using the name of a long-dead resident whose name remained on the list of qualified voters.

Meanwhile, the Northern Police District said that since Sunday, they have arrested 28 people—21 from Caloocan and seven from Navotas—for violating the election liquor ban.

In Muntinlupa City, 1,455 New Bilibid Prison (NBP) inmates exercised their right to choose the leaders in Barangay Poblacion for the first time.

The inmates cast their votes at the special poll place set up inside the NBP’s administration building. Inmates were led in from the maximum and medium security compounds as early as 6 a.m. with the polling booths opening at 7:45 a.m.

The voting proceeded smoothly, earning the approval of no less than Justice Secretary Leila de Lima who dropped in for a visit. Also present to monitor the proceedings were representatives from the Commission on Human Rights and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

The filled-out ballots were later delivered to Itaas Elementary School annex precinct at 1:30 p.m. so that these could be counted.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, meanwhile, took a hands-off stance when he was asked about several issues, including the move to cancel the passport of his son Sen. Jinggoy Estrada due to his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

When he arrived at P. Burgos Elementary School, people chanted, “Erap kami (We’re for Erap)!” as the former president made his way to his assigned precinct on the third floor.

When asked by a reporter if he found it difficult to climb to the third floor, Estrada, 76, said in jest, “Do you want me to carry you?”

Senior citizens (from left) Anita Cayetano, 89; Narciso Cayetano, 100; and Castor Manalang, 95; proudly display their indelible ink-stained fingers. PHOTOS BY RAFFY LERMA, MARIANNE BERMUDEZ, ARNOLD ALMACEN AND KIMBERLY DELA CRUZ

“I can even go up to the sixth floor. The sight of happy people and the peaceful conduct of the elections give me strength,” he added.

However, he refused to comment on the Department of Justice’s request to cancel his son’s passport.

“I don’t want to meddle in a national issue. I’ve already done that before. Jinggoy can defend himself; there’s no need for us to get involved,” he told reporters.

Outside Pineda Elementary School in Barangay Pineda, Pasig City, which was declared an area of concern, several people—even children—were spotted distributing sample ballots.

This was despite Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes’ previous pronouncement that this would be prohibited on Election Day as this was considered a form of campaigning.

“Please vote,” one man was heard saying as he handed the Inquirer several pieces of paper that contained the name of Henry Lacuna who was running for barangay chair and Jiji Lipana, for barangay kagawad.—With Nathaniel R. Melican, Erika Sauler and Kristine Felisse Mangunay

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Police declare ‘peaceful’ polls in Manila