Discrepancies in voters' list discovered
BAYBAY CITY, Philippines — After the posting of the certified list of voters last February, political leaders and some voters in the barangays have started complaining about what they found were blatant discrepancies at the Comelec, especially on proper addresses of registered voters.
For one, James Sombilon, a former councilman of the mountain barangay of Maypatag of this city, disclosed to The Freeman last Thursday that initial findings showed at least two non-residents were listed as voters of his barangay. "There are no Janiel Dadious Dela Cerna and Ruschel Mahinlo Terater here," he said.
Sombilon was also wary of their addresses. Dela Cerna was allegedly from sitio Hicgop, purportedly of Brgy. Maypatag, but then Hicgop is a sitio of the coastal Brgy. Caridad.
Terater was allegedly from sitio Kinuhaan, purportedly of Maypatag also, but then Kinuhaan is a sitio of Brgy. Maitum, also a coastal area.
"These two barangays are far from our barangay of Maypatag, because Brgy. Caridad is 40 kilometers apart from us while Maitum is 30 kms away," said Sombilon.
Seven residents of Maypatag further complained of their not being in the Comelec list of voters, even if they had voted in the last elections.
Sombilon said that "if this was not intentional, we will try to understand but with the hope that Comelec was not actually influenced by some politicians to fall into this 'error.'"
Meanwhile, Comelec officials in this city have yet to issue a statement on this matter. (FREEMAN)
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