Relief of Antique PBOC sought
Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez has called for the relief of the entire provincial board of canvassers (PBOC) for failing to proclaim the winning candidates in the province despite a resolution of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Perez said the three-member board headed by lawyer Gil Barcenal should abide by the resolution issued by the Comelec which said there was no basis to suspend the canvassing and proclamation of the winning candidate for governor in the province.
"The delay is taking too long and they should implement the resolution," Perez said in a telephone interview.
In a resolution promulgated on May 28, the Comelec's Second Division dismissed the petition filed by former assemblyman Arturo Pacificador to suspend the canvassing of votes for the position of governor and the suspension of the proclamation of Perez.
The resolution signed by Commissioners Florentino Tuason Jr., Rene Sarmiento and Nicodemo Ferrer said there was "no overwhelming need" to suspend the canvassing of votes and proclamation of the winning candidate.
Based on election returns from the province’s 18 municipalities, Perez had topped the gubernatorial race with 68,867 votes against Pacificador who got 55,502 votes and Jovito Plameras who garnered 54,062 votes.
Pacificador had asked the Comelec to suspend the canvassing of votes for governor and the proclamation until pending disqualification cases against Perez and Plameras are resolved. He also alleged that irregularities were committed during the elections favoring Perez.
In its resolution, the Comelec's Second Division pointed out that under under Resolution No. 8062, "...no suspension of proclamation of winning candidates with pending disqualification cases, before or after elections, involving issues of citizenship, non-residency, not being a registered voter, nuisance candidate, and/or violation of the election laws..."
It said the Comelec should guard against "proclamation grabbing and excessive delay in proclamation, as they are equally evil."
Antique is the only province in Western Visayas whose winning candidates have not been proclaimed, three weeks after the elections.
Perez decried how their scheduled proclamation last Friday was called off after she along with the candidates for provincial board were told to the attend the session of the PBOC for their supposed proclamation.
"It was humiliating and big insult to all of us and the electorate," said Perez.
Comelec regional director Renato Magbutay justified the suspension of the proclamation because Pacificador has also filed a pre-proclamation protest that has yet to be resolved by the Comelec.
"The Commission en banc may decide on it this week. Until then, the canvassing and proclamation should is suspended because the Second Division's resolution only covered one of two petitions filed by Pacificador," Magbutay said in a telephone interview.
Pacificador filed the pre-proclamation protest days after the elections alleging that votes for governor were "padded and tampered." He said he will also contest the resolution of the Second Division before the Supreme Court.