Losing candidates pin last hopes on special polls in remote village

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — An obscure mountain village here has been transformed into a most sought-after destination among local political candidates fighting for survival.

This after the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared the conduct of special elections in remote Barangay Binwangan in Dupax Del Norte town after three ballot boxes were lost a day after the elections were held.

The ballot boxes, which were snatched by still unidentified men while about to be transported to the poblacion, contained votes of more than 400 registered voters in the village, which is dominated by the indigenous Igorot tribe.

The result of the special elections can still affect the rankings of candidates for board members in this province’s southern district, particularly those in the no. 5 and no. 6 spots.

Like the province’s northern district, only the first five will be elected to the board of the southern legislative district.

Currently holding the last slot is incumbent board member Efren Quiben, who has a margin of 168 votes over incumbent Santa Fe town mayor Teodorico Padilla.

Lawyer Abraham Asuncion, provincial election registrar, told media here there is a need to conduct special elections in Binwangan as the number of registered voters here could still affect the positions currently held by Quiben and Padilla.

Likewise, the Binwangan election would also affect results of the race for Sangguniang Bayan (municipal board) of Dupax Del Norte, particularly those holding the no. 5 to 12 spots. Only the first eight bets will compose the town’s municipal board.

Asuncion said it is now up to the Comelec central office to decide when to conduct the special elections in Barangay Binwangan.

In the meantime, concerned local bets are now staking out Binwangan, promising goodies like computer sets, barangay vehicles, farm-to-market roads and other things to win the hearts of the village voters.