ELECTIONS IN MANY BRGYS POSTPONED

Late arrival of election paraphernalia blamed

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

CANCELLATION of polls and violent incidents believed to be election-related occurred in various parts of Western Visayas as voters trooped to voting precincts for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections Monday.

Nick Estopia, 27, of Brgy. Ilas Norte, Dao, Capiz, was grazed by a bullet in the head after an unidentified suspect shot him 6am Monday at Brgy. Tabuk, Pontevedra.

Estopia was onboard a banca with Punong Barangay Baltazar “Angke” Belvis of Tabuk when the incident happened. Luckily, Estopia and Belvis were able to jump into the water and evade the hail of bullets

The Pontevedra police recovered four shells of caliber .45 pistol and seven shells of M16 Armalite bullets near the crime scene.

S/Supt. Renato Gumban, Capiz provincial police director, said the incident could be election-related although they are still investigating the incident.

In Estancia, Iloilo, two cousins running against each other for headship of Brgy. Tabu-an allegedly traded shots in the town.

Supporters of Riza Cartagena, who is running for punong barangay of Tabu-an, allegedly fired first at the house of his cousin, incumbent Punong Barangay Randy Ramirez.

Ramirez’s group allegedly returned fire at five suspects riding on two motorcycles.

The Police Regional Office (PRO-6) has directed the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division to look into the incident believed to be instigated by a politician in Estancia.

POSTPONEMENTS

Elections in 20 barangays in Capiz were postponed to October 27, 2010.

Capiz Provincial election supervisor Wil Arceño said 11 barangays are in Tapaz, 5 in Jamindan and 2 in Sapian towns.

Arceño the official ballots and other election paraphernalia arrived late Monday while some are lacking.

Election paraphernalia for the said areas were received only early this morning, he added.

“The 13 barangays in Tapaz are upland and far-flung communities which could be reached in two days,” Arceño said.

Arceño added that more than 8,000 official ballots are also lacking for the 7 barangays of Sapian and Jamindan.

Capiz has a total of 473 barangays with 425,621 registered voters for the barangay elections and 33,350 registered SK voters.

The Comelec has established 1,372 clustered precincts for yesterday’s barangay and SK polls.

Elections in two towns of Negros Occidental were also postponed until October 27 due to lack of election paraphernalia.

Provincial Comelec supervisor Jessie Suarez said 27,000 official ballots intended for Pontevedra town did not arrive on time.

In Isabela town, only 15,000 of the 16,000 ballots were delivered.

In Bacolod City, Liza Centeno Yanson, a candidate for barangay captain in Tangub, reported that she was mauled by another candidate, Nory Rebadonia, who denied the charge.

A caller also reported that a member of the Manapla police set up a checkpoint near the house of a candidate as he was supporting another candidate for village head.

Minor incidents marred elections in Iloilo City.

Bets for punong barangay of Tanza-Timawa II in City Proper district almost figured in a fisticuff at the polling center.

Supporters of candidate John Roberto was going out of the precinct at Rizal Elementary School after casting his vote when his rival, Demetrio Delvider allegedly accosted him at the doorway.

The two sides traded heated words which almost ended in a boxing bout. The incident was quelled after cooler heads prevailed.

Atty. Tomas Valera, Iloilo City election supervisor, said the fate of 10 candidates for barangay kagawad hangs in the balance after it was found out that they have completed three successive terms.

Valera candidates who have completed successive terms but ran again for the same position will not be proclaimed should they win.

Iloilo Provincial Election supervisor Elizabeth Doronila said elections in several precincts in the province started late because of the late arrival of election paraphernalia.

Despite the delay, Doronila said elections in Iloilo were generally smooth. (With reports from Dolly Yasa, Edgar Cadagat and PIA)