Recanvassing to resume today; Compostela security up
INTRAMUROS, Manila—Yesterday’s Iglesia ni Cristo rally canceled the scheduled data extraction of the compact flash cards used in the 2010 elections in Compostela town.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) central office here canceled work due to the road closures enforced for the Iglesia ni Cristo gathering along Quirino Grandstand located about a kilometer away.
Major roads in Manila City were closed as early as 5 a.m. yesterday including Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue, among others that connect to Intramuros.
As such, the special municipal board of canvassers for the Compostela election protest failed to “extract” data from the Election Records Statistics Department (ERSD) yesterday that was needed for another round of recanvassing.
Victor Pablo Trinidad, counsel of Mayor-elect Joel Quiño, the board decided to postpone the extraction of the data kept in the ERSD.
They scheduled the extraction today, Feb. 29, ahead of the scheduled resumption of the canvassing at 2 p.m.
Article continues after this advertisementThe special MBOC counted on Monday the 15 ERs of clustered precincts subject to the election protest filed by Quino’s opponent, former Mayor Ritchie Wagas.
Article continues after this advertisementThe copes were sent via sealed envelopes from Cebu.
While the canvassing was finished last Monday, irregularities were found in two ERs representing two precincts.
This prompted the MBOC to hold the supposed proclamation on that same day.
In Compostela town, SPO4 Florencio Balila Jr., Compostela deputy police chief, said they’ve been monitoring the town following the recanvassing of votes last Monday.
A barbed wire fence was set up at the right entrance of the Compostela town hall.
Only three policemen from the Special Reaction Unit (SRU) are present at the site armed with long rifles.
SPO3 Octavio dela Paz said two teams of 12 men were on standby to augment the municipal police.
He said they received reports of a rally scheduled today in front of the municipal hall. Dela Paz said they have yet to verify them but they’re prepared for this eventuality.
