Comelec may not hold polls in Guimbal precinct
There is a possibility that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will not hold a special election on a precinct at Guimbal town which received a ballot intended for another precinct in Western Samar.
According to Comelec regional election director Atty. Rey Rene Buac, they already reported the ballot switch between a precinct at the Guimbal Central Elementary School in Guimbal, Iloilo and that of Brgy. Buenos Aires in Pagsanghan town, Western Samar.
“We have been asking the board of canvassers in Guimbal if somehow the results of the elections will be affected by the 460 registered votes that are supposed to be casted,” he claimed.
It was gathered that the votes would not matter in the mayoralty and vice mayoralty race since incumbent Mayor Christine Garin and Mary Ann Suyao both ran undefeated.
“We are now looking at the votes got by councilors number 8 and number 9. If they are going to elect only 8, so if the difference is less than the number of the registered, so dapat na matuloy ‘yung election,” Buac said adding, “but if the difference is less than the number of the total registered voters, so Commission is not to set another election because the votes are not needed to determine the winners. “That’s the only condition. If it’s going to affect in determining the winner with the 460 votes, then there will be going to have an election.”
There were 19 candidates vying for the 8 slots in the Sangguniang Bayan.
“For national candidates, I don’t think the 460 will make a difference,” he added.
It was gathered that members of the board of canvassers have not given any feedback about the matter.
“Ang usapan naming kasi, if there is no problem, they need not report it to us. Tatanggapin namin dito kung may hihingin sila ng tulong ... some legal advices or legal supports. So, since the other day, wala na akong narining sa Guimbal. So, I presume that they already solved the problem,” Buac said.
To note, voters from Poblacion, Guimbal could not hide their disappointment after voting was suspended in the area.
The suspension came after BEIs found out that the ballots supplied at their precinct were supposed to be the ballots for Western Samar.
Several voters already shaded their choice for the national posts when they found out, after flipping at the back page, that they were unfamiliar with the names of the local candidates.
According to the BEIs, they did not bother to inspect the ballots earlier because they were instructed that these should only be opened on election day.
