by: flor jackson
Naval, Biliran (October 29) – The Provincial Election Supervisor of the province of Biliran in the person of Atty. Sabino Mejarito together with the Municipal Election Officers of the eight municipalities of the province here strongly urges voters of the province not to sell their votes as Comelec-Biliran declared they are set for today’s synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
This was bared by Atty. Sabino Mejarito in yesteday’s special edition of Kapihan at Pulong-pulong ng Bayan at Radyo Natin-Naval.
He informed during the radio interview together with Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director of Biliran Col. Alfredo Sabornido, the private media and the PIA that all the paraphernalias, office supplies, forms and other materials needed for the election today arrived early from Manila to ensure that distribution can also be done smoothly and on time.
“The teachers who serve on election day were equipped with enough training to be able to dispense their duties wellâ€, he said.
“What was unique during the training of the teachers was, they were made to present a role playing of the possible situations and scenarios they will experience during the actual performance of their duties as Barangay Election Tellers (BET) on election day,†he added.
The training of teachers who serve in today’s elections, according to Atty. Mejarito, and the candidates forum which was attended by all the candidates was conducted by the provincial Comelec in coordination with the eight municipalities in Biliran province together with the personnel from Comelec central office who came all the way from Manila just to assist them in this particular activity.
Repeatedly, Atty. Mejarito reminded all the candidates to refrain from vote-buying and giving of anything of value because according to him these are illegal acts and are considered crimininal offenses as these are violations of the election laws.
He said his office has been receiving reports of alleged vote buying even before election day.
In reaction to this, Atty. Mejarito encouraged those who reported the illegal acts to stand by their side, gather evidences and execute affidavits duly notarized by a lawyer so that a case will be pursued against the violators.
He said, the candidates have laready been informed during the candidates seminar of their responsibilities and the different violative acts relative to the elections today.
He told the parents of the SK candidates during the radio interview to be role models of their children and teach them the good values in life instead of teaching them to be corrupt by vote-buying and vote selling at their young age.
Meanwhile, Col. Alfredo Sabornido, the newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP)Provincial Director of Biliran in an interview, informed that as of this time they have not received any reports of untoward incidents related to the conduct of the elections today.
He informed that the PNP men in the entire province including the augmentation force he requested from the mobile group were dispatched to the different municipalitities and barangays all over the province as early as dawn the other day to ensure peace and order in these areas days before the elections, on election day and days after the elections.
Col. Sabornido who was installed on September 28, 2007 bared that the members of the joint forces of the PNP-Mobile Group were provided cellphones so that through the communication facility, they can respond immediately if there are calls for assistance.
As voters go to their respective precincts to cast their votes of their choice candidates today, Col. Sabornido joins with Atty. Mejarito in requesting the voters to vote early and choose the right candidates who will sincerely serve in their respective barangays once they get elected.
He requested all Biliranons to support the PNP and give them the right information so that they can respond immediately to their requests and complaints. (PIA-Biliran)