Poll exec told to deliver ballot boxes to Manila

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division has ordered the Cebu City Election Officer to deliver to Manila the ballot boxes that are subject of the election protest filed by former vice mayor Joy Augustus Young against Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella after the inventory.

 Cebu City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas started the inventory last Wednesday following the order of Comelec First Division Presiding Commissioner Christian Robert Lim dated January 20, 2016.

 Lim directed Cuevas to turn over the ballot boxes together with the keys and other election paraphernalia to the City Election Officer after the inventory and compare the same with a copy of the Certificate of Receipt of Official Ballot Boxes, Other Forms, and supplies by the Board of Election Inspectors.

 The Election Officer is also directed to conduct the sealing of ballot boxes in the presence of the treasurer and both parties or their duly authorized representatives, observing strict measures to protect its safety and integrity such as sealing the lid of each ballot box with packaging tapes, with the EO and parties affixing their signatures on said tapes.

 The Comelec has authorized the EO to secure a sufficient number of security personnel either from the Philippine National Police or the Armed Forces of the Philippines when transporting the ballot boxes and documents from Cebu City to the Comelec Philpost Warehouse in Manila.

 “The Commission hereby reminds the parties that unnecessary delay in the activities directed in this Order shall not be tolerated,” the order reads.

 The Comelec has stood by its decision to continue the election protest Young filed against Labella by denying the latter’s motion for reconsideration on November 25, 2015.

 The Comelec found “substantial recovery that would lead to the conclusion that there is merit or legitimacy in the election protest.”

 Young reportedly garnered 238 votes against Labella who got 59 votes in the first 116 precincts, whose results in the May 2013 elections were recounted by the Comelec.

 On May 17, 2013, the City Board of Canvassers proclaimed Labella as the winning candidate and the duly elected vice mayor of Cebu City with a total of 203,267 votes as against Young’s 203,083 votes or a lead margin of 184 votes.

 For the Comelec to find substantial recovery in the election protest, Young should recover at least 20 percent or 37 votes out of the overall vote lead of Labella, which is 184. — (FREEMAN)