Compostela poll mess: Comelec guidance sought regarding recanvassing

CEBU, Philippines - The Municipal Board of Canvassers of the Municipality of Compostela asked for guidance from the Commission on Elections in Manila on the re-canvassing of votes of the May 10, 2010 elections.

Disierto Hortelano Jr., the election officer assigned in Compostela in 2010, and acting as chairman of the MBOC, brought up four issues with Comelec Deputy Executive Director for Operations, Bartolome Sinocruz Jr. yesterday.

First, was when the resolution of the Comelec en banc would final and executory after it was promulgated on June 13, 2011 which ordered the recanvassing of votes by the MBOC.

Second, he asked for the rules of canvassing as the 2010 elections were automated and computers counted the votes.

Third, is the composition of MBOC considering that the vice chairman, Compostela municipal treasurer Lorenzo Almodiel, has been suspended for six months for his failure to submit the town’s statement of receipts and expenditures reports.

Hortelano is also now the election officer of the Municipality of Poro, Camotes Island.

Lastly, Hortelano asked if he was allowed to request for a mobilization fund for the recanvassing.

Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano supported the move of Hortelano.

Technically, Castillano said the resolution can be implemented after 30 days from promulgation prompting them to set the recanvassing on July 14.

He said they have to wait for the answer of Comelec Manila to the queries of Hortelano on or before July 14 unless there will be order to stop them from recanvassing.

Castillano said that if they get no response by July 14, they still cannot execute the resolution since, as of yesterday, they have yet to receive a copy of the said Comelec en banc resolution, although he said he was already aware of the said resolution in Manila. 

The Comelec Second Division earlier ordered the MBOC to reconvene and recanvass the votes in the 2010 elections in Compostela.

Mayor-elect Joel Quiño and the town councilors filed a motion for reconsideration of the Comelec Second Division's decision but the Comelec En Banc dismissed their petition last June 13, 2011.

Quiño may file petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court but Castillano said “the mere filing doesn’t stop the execution unless the Supreme Court issues temporary restraining order and injunction.”

For already one year, Compostela has had no elected officials after the Comelec suspended the proclamation of Quiño and the other elected officials. - (THE FREEMAN)