Western Visayas' 3.6M voters troop polls today
Police personnel and Army soldiers are in high-alert as the nation holds the elections today.
In Western Visayas, over 3.6 million voters are expected to troop polling precincts with all six provinces practically having an in-house battle for administration-backed candidates.
Iloilo Province with its 941,380 registered voters will cast votes in 6,601 precincts all set to be secured by uniformed police and the military.
Vital installations here will also be tightly guarded amidst concern of sabotage from insurgents.
Last minute developments had the Provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) effect transfer of counting for election returns in six barangays in the Municipality of Janiuay. Similar approval for an earlier request in the Municipality of San Miguel though it was not immediately clear how many barangays and precincts were included in the transfer. Janiuay sought for transfer of the counting with reelectionist-Mayor Ben Margarico citing presence of communist-terrorists New People's Army (NPA) here.
One mayoralty candidate has also been disqualified in the Municipality of Carles, independent mayorable Edsel Bandojo. As such, the fight for the town mayorship is left to Arnold Betita of the ruling Lakas-CMD and Edsel "Toto" Betita of the local opposition UGYON party. Bandojo's disqualification was sought on grounds that he was a "nuisance" candidate.
At least eight other disqualification raps hang with Comelec Assistant Regional Director Tomas Valera explaining that while Decisions were reportedly reached in the Division level over the weekend, it has yet to be transmitted here.
Latest disqualification sought on Second District reelectionist Congresswoman Judy Syjuco will also be heard today amidst the expected flurry of activities in the Provincial Comelec. It was to be the lady solon's second disqualification case as filed by erstwhile aide and strategist Alex Espino with the grounds on the supposed overspending for her campaign.
Iloilo's coveted seats for the Capitol are being fought by 'giants' in the province -- reelectionist Governor Niel Tupas Sr. for the opposition versus Vice Governor Roberto "Obet" Armada for the administration. As in the 2004 elections, issues of corruption hounded Tupas yet defended by his strategists as a non-issue. Latest legal developments that managed to have a stay on the execution of the governor's dismissal order due to graft charges were used as additional defense to back up Tupas' claim for innocence.
The vice gubernatorial bid while a three-cornered fight has focused on the governor-backed bet, Board Member Domingo Oso and outgoing Fifth District Congressman Rolex Suplico, the governor's nephew.
Congressional seats will also see judgment day for four reelectionist solons, First District Congresswoman Janet Garin, Syjuco in the Second District, Congressman Arthur Defensor in the Third District and Dr. Ferjinel Biron in the Fourth District. Fifth District is a fight between first cousins, Niel Tupas Jr. and Col. Enrique "Boy" Suplico, brother of Congressman Rolex.
Meantime, it is sure victory today for four re-electionist mayors and a first-termer lady bet and five other vice mayors all of whom are running unopposed.
Southern Iloilo's Guimbal town will have a lady mayor in businesswoman Christine "Tingting" Serag-Garin, younger sister of outgoing mayor Richard Garin.
She is joined in the "Sure-Winners' Club" by re-electionist mayors Arcadio "Cadio" Hitalia-Goriceta of Pavia, Cabatuan Mayor Ramon "Mon" Cao-Yee, Mina Mayor Rey "Bok" Pelaez Grabato and Barotac Viejo Mayor Raul "Boboy" Causing-Tupas.
Sure victories as well for Pavia reelectionist Vice Mayor Guillerno "Gimo" Hubines Hisancha, Cabatuan's Ronilo "Ronnie" Ontanillas Caspe, San Rafael's Jeannie "Jiji" Escoliada-Balasico, Barotac Viejo's Jovino "Bingbang" Barrido-Tugbang Jr., and Sara's new vice mayor in Board Member Jeneda Salcedo.