Garcia camp alarmed by retrieval of PCOS

CEBU, Philippines - The camp of third district congresswoman-elect Gwendolyn Garcia was alarmed over the retrieval of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines from Toledo City.

The PCOS machines are now in 2GO Warehouse in Mandaue City.

Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Eddie Abba, confirmed that the PCOS machines are now retrieved and ready for shipment to Manila.

Abba clarified that all other election paraphernalia and documents are left in custody of the city and municipal treasurers.

Lawyer Christina Garcia-Frasco reported that the PCOS machines in Toledo City were pulled out last Thursday midnight from Barba Sports Complex.

Frasco said that they were “very much concerned” because there was no prior notice to the candidates or written order from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“Walay angay kabalak-an,” assured Abba who also said the retrieval has authorization from their office. (There’s nothing to worry about.)

One of the concerns is that the retrieval was done even if the 10 day-period of filing election protest from the date of election is not yet over.

Frasco was relieved upon learning that only the bare PCOS machines were retrieved as they still has to keep watch of the ballots until after ten days from the election.

Garcia was proclaimed by the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) last Thursday as the elected representative of the third district of Cebu province.

The third district is comprised of Toledo City and the towns of Barili, Aloguinsan, Pinamungajan, Balamban, Asturias, and Tuburan with 305,952 registered voters.

Garcia of the United Nationalist Alliance-One Cebu (UNA-1Cebu) defeated Liberal Party’s candidate Geraldine Yapha by 1,984 votes.

Garcia is suspended as governor for six months since December 17, 2012 while Yapha is the mayor of Pinamungajan. (FREEMAN)