Cadungog denies visiting Tomas

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Election Officer Edwin Cadungog is denying reports that he visited Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña at his house in Barangay Guadalupe last Sunday.

“Nagtoo ko nga gipagawas na nga report aron mapadali ang among transfer gikan dinhi sa Cebu City,” said Cadungog. (I think they are just making that up to hasten our transfer outside Cebu City.)

Cadungog said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be implementing effective today the reshuffling of its election officers to avoid speculations that they might be biased in favor of certain candidates.

Cadungog would be reassigned to Mandaue City while Cebu City north district Election Officer Marchel Sarno will be also transferred to Toledo City.

Mandaue City Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde will replace Cadungog's post while Sarno's post will be replaced by Danao City Election Officer Ian Marigomen.

Cadungog said it is very impossible for him to be at the house of Osmeña last Sunday because he was visiting his relatives in Ginatilan town in southern Cebu.

Nobody had showed up to testify that he saw Cadungog visiting the lawmaker's house at Gervacio Quijada Street. Osmeña also denied the report.

According to Osmeña, he did not meet with Cadungog recently. He believes that such report was only meant to destroy the credibility of the election official.

Cadungog added that he will not allow himself to be involved in controversy by going to the house of a politician.

Cadungog explained that the government officials can visit them anytime at their offices so there is no need for the election officers to personally go to their houses. — (FREEMAN)