San Remigio ABC poll issue resolved

CEBU, Philippines – The problem surrounding the election for president of the Association of Barangay Councils in San Remigio town was finally resolved by the board of canvassers Wednesday evening.

This after Toong barangay captain Merlyn Cabataña executed an affidavit that she mistakenly written in the position of vice president her choice for ABC president, Argawanon barangay captain Conrado Loon.

During the ABC election last Tuesday, Loon and Canagahan barangay captain Jaime Vistar both garnered 13 votes after one vote was declared invalid because it was written in the position for vice president.

Both Loon and Vistar then agreed to a term-sharing scheme, instead of the traditional coin toss to break the tie.

They agreed that Loon will serve the first half of the three-year term while Vistar will serve the other half.

But Mayor Jay Olivar said they were contesting the result and that they wanted to count as valid the strayed vote for Loon, his ally. This prompted Cabataña to execute an affidavit that was then considered by the board of canvassers Wednesday evening.

The board then proclaimed Loon as the winner for the ABC presidency. Loon is set to assume as ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Bayan. 

The Department of Interior and Local Government has supported the term-sharing arrangement, saying that it has no legal impediments.

DILG-7 director Pedro Noval, Jr. said that the department respects the agreement reached by both parties.

He, however, explained that the agreement should be put into writing to avoid troubles in the future.

The FREEMAN learned that there was no written agreement achieved by both parties until the issue was resolved.

Noval said this is the first time that a tie was resolved by an agreement of term-sharing. He said the practice, in most cases, is to resolve it through a coin toss.

Section 240 of the Omnibus Election Code provides for the drawing of lots in case two or more electoral candidates garner the same or equal highest number of votes. (FREEMAN)