CCIMPEL intensifies info drive on May polls

The Cebu Citizens Involvement and Maturation for People Empowerment and Liberation or C-CIMPEL, the local counter-part of National Movement for Free Elections, is heightening its information campaign on the May 14 elections.

During yesterday's KAPAMILYA media forum aired over dyAB, Marilou Chiongbian, an official of the C-CIMPEL, said the people should exercise their right to vote and be part of the coming elections.

C-CIMPEL will tap some church-based organizations in order to reach its goal of helping make the election clean and free. It will also actively involve in exposing anomalies by some candidates.

But urban poor leader Edward Ligas said "money" and "machineries" of the candidates could dictate the pulse of the masses. Ligas ran but lost for city councilor in the 2004 election under the ticket of then Mayor Alvin Garcia.

Businessman Jonathan Guardo, who is running against south district Rep. Antonio Cuenco, said machineries would help a lot in the campaign but what is important is the platform of government that a candidate can offer to his constituents.

"Importante 'ron nga dunay kausaban ug panahon na 'ron sa mga batan-on nga ilisan ang mga traditional nga politiko," Guardo said.

At the same forum, Commission on Elections provincial election officer Edwin Cadungog said they are now going through the cleansing process of the voter's list before the January 31 deadline.

Cadungog assured that they would file complaints against those who have registered twice or have multiple registration entries. - Ramil V. Ayuman