PNP: Cavite special polls peaceful, orderly

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — No untoward incidents occurred during the conduct of a special elections for the congressional representative in the seventh district of Cavite yesterday.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the election was “generally peaceful and orderly.”

Col. Christopher Olazo, Cavite police director, said that polling centers in the municipalities of Amadeo, Indang and Tanza as well as in Trece Martirez City were calm and quiet during the voting.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Asnan and Maj. Dennis Villanueva, chiefs of the Trece Martirez and Tanza police, respectively, said no firearms, bladed weapons and blunt objects were seized from voters in and outside the polling centers in their areas of jurisdiction.

Majors Edward Cantano and Gilbert Derla, chief of the Indang and Amadeo police, respectively, reported the same situation in their areas of responsibility.

Asman said there were 13 polling centers and 13 barangays with a total of 115,511 voters in Trece Martirez.

“As of 3 p.m. yesterday, almost 15 percent of voters have cast their votes in Trece Martirez,” Asnan told The STAR over the phone.

Cantano, Derla and Villanueva said no malfunctions of vote counting machine were reported in their areas.

“After the voting, the ballot boxes – escorted by police officers – will be taken to the municipal and city halls, where the counting will be done. The final count will be conducted at the provincial capitol,” the police officials said.

Olazo said around 816 police officers secured the special elections.

The elections will determine the replacement of former congressman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who was appointed justice secretary by President Marcos.

As this developed, a disqualification case has been filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against Remulla’s son Crispin Diego Remulla, one of four candidates in the Cavite special elections.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia told journalists that the poll body received the disqualification case on Thursday.

Garcia said they would look into the details of the case and discuss its merits next week as the Comelec is still focusing on the special polls.

Garcia, a resident of Indang, cast his vote yesterday morning at the Banaba Cerca Integrated School.

Citing initial assessment, Garcia said everything went smoothly and no untoward incident was monitored by the police.

He said the winner could be proclaimed by around 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. today.