15 polling precincts in Jaro transferred to new venue
Fifteen polling precincts from MV Hechanova Elementary School have been moved to Quintin Salas Elementary School following the Commission on Elections (Comelec) approval of the petition for transfer earlier filed by the voters.
In an en banc resolution signed by Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos and Commissioners Romeo A. Brawner, Florentino A. Tuason Jr and Rene V. Sarmiento has favored the transfer of polling place of Barangay Quintin Salas consisting of 15 polling precincts or eleven clustered precincts.
The order approved the transfer of precinct numbers 0460A, 0460B, 0461A, 0461B, 0462A, 0463A, 0463B, 04644A, 0465A, 0465B, 0466A, 0466B, 0467A, 0467B and 0467C from MV Hechanova Elementary School to Quintin Salas Elementary School. The order was approved last May 4, 2007. The resolution was forwarded to the regional office of the Comelec Friday last week.
With the approval, the City Comelec is ordered to send notices to the voters affected by such transfer and all the parties concerned, post the corresponding notices of transfer of the polling place in the barangay hall, if any and in three other conspicuous places in the barangay.
The request for transfer was supported by the signatures of registered voters of Barangay Quintin Salas and the letter of agreement executed by the representatives of all political parties such as the Lakas-CMD, Liberal Party, Kampi, PDP-Laban, PMP and Ugyon. A photograph of the old polling precincts was made as an attachment to the request which likewise prompted the Comelec to grant the request for transfer of polling precincts. The same request of voters was channeled through Provincial Election Supervisor and concurrent City Election Supervisor Elizabeth Doronila and Comelec Regional Director Renato Magbutay.
The approval was made after Comelec's verification and the requesting party complied with the Comelec's requirement as contained in Section 154 of the Omnibus Election Code. The same provision states that each polling precinct shall be, as far as practicable, a ground floor and shall be sufficient size to admit and comfortably accommodate forty voters at one time outside the guard rail for the board of election inspectors.
It also said that the polling place shall be located within the territory of the precinct as centrally as possible with respect to the residence of the voters therein and whenever possible such location shall be along a public road. No designation of polling places shall be changed except upon written petition of the majority of the voters of the precinct or agreement of all the political parties or by resolution of the Commission upon prior notice and hearing.
The hearing for the request for transfer of polling precinct was held last April 17, 2007. The hearing was made based on the memorandum of Atty. Teopisto Elnas Jr., acting director IV, election and barangay affairs department of the Comelec. At first the request for transfer of polling precincts was denied but later was granted.