Comelec creates new Board of Canvassers

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Elections has allowed that the recanvassing of votes in Compostela will be done in Manila with the new board of canvassers.

Comelec provincial supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said the new board of canvassers has already been created consisting of Comelec lawyers from Manila.

With the creation of the new board of canvassers, Castillano is confident that the recanvassing of votes will be done within the month.  

“Most probably this month naa nay re-canvassing sa Manila kay granted man to ang motion ni (Ritchie) Wagas to transfer sa Manila and for a new board of canvassers (to) be appointed,” Castillano said.

Castillano said they are only waiting for a specific guideline from Comelec Manila on the transport of the election paraphernalia. According to Castillano, they are also asking the Comelec Manila to make representation with the Presidential Electoral Tribunal to allow them to transport the election paraphernalia that are covered by a protection order.

The PET has issued protection order on election paraphernalia that are being used in the election protest filed by vice presidential candidate Mar Roxas III against Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Castillano added that they are also making query on the funding for the transportation of the election paraphernalia to Manila.

He is hopeful that the Comelec has included the budget in the 2012 General Appropriations Act.

Lawyer George Garcia, counsel for Ritchie Wagas, earlier asked that the recanvassing of votes will be done in Manila and that a new board of canvassers should be created.

The Commission En Banc, headed by chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr., granted the motion after the camp of respondents Joel Quiño, vice mayor Maria Antoinette Dangoy, and eight councilors, did not object to it.

In a letter dated October 3, the respondents said they had no objection to transfer the recanvassing in Manila.

Instead, Quiño and his camp requested the Commission to immediately canvass the votes in the clustered precincts that are subject of the petition. (FREEMAN)