Raul Sr. accuses Jed, Jerry’s supporters of staging mob rule
Following a tension-packed protest the other night, former Justice Secretary and Iloilo City mayoralty candidate Raul Gonzalez, Sr. accused supporters of his political rivals of promoting a mob rule.
Gonzalez told ABS-CBN Iloilo that followers of leading Iloilo City mayoralty bet Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and congressional candidate Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas have committed “acts of violence against the people who are just doing their job peacefully.”
Following the non-proclamation of Mabilog and Treñas, who were both leading by several thousands from their closest rivals, supporters of the two candidates held a prayer vigil, which later turned into an indignation rally.
The supporters allegedly prevented some personnel to “peacefully” go out from the canvassing center at the DepEd Social and Cultural Hall at Mabini St., Iloilo City.
The supporters even turned their ire on Gonzalez’s legal counsel Atty. Eugenio Original, who was insulted and thrown with bottled water.
Gonzalez cited that what happened should be an eye-opener for of Iloilo City residents of the kind of leaders his opponents are.
“Actually, they were the ones who instigated the mob to prevent the Comelec from working. What they did was serious illegal detention, which is bordering in fact on sedition. Because when you prevent officials from performing their duties with the mob rules with threats, that is sedition. More serious than that, they are preventing the people from getting out. They threatened the lawyers who are just there to perform their jobs,” he added.
Gonzalez claimed that what happened to Original is an example of mob rule.
“If you’re just a lawyer, why should they hurl things on you? Or threaten with harm members of the board of canvassers, including Fiscal Baliao?” he quipped.
Tainted results
Although their petition to stop the canvassing and go for a manual recount was denied by the board of canvassers, the order from Comelec Manila is a recognition of what is happening – the errors and mistakes – that had been results of the non-performance of the machines, Gonzalez said.
“This is a very serious matter. Kung ang machines gin-pre-program in advance, then the results do not reflect the will of the people and I think the Comelec realize this,” he claimed.
The former Justice Secretary alleged that there were some dubious incidents seen during the processing of the transmission of results from the polling center to the board of canvassers.
“Therefore, the results are tainted. I think, they are afraid that the anomalies will be uncovered,” he claimed
For now, Gonzalez said that they only wanted to have their petition properly heard.
“We want due process. We want rule of law. I hope they would tolerate judicial process. I hope they would adhere to the rules and regulations and resolutions, which have been passed and implemented by Comelec,” he said in conclusion.
