News from PCIJ
Published May 21st, 2007News from 2 days ago …
Robredo, entire winning slate finally proclaimed | May 19, 2007
SHORTLY before 1 o’clock this morning, the Commission on Elections finally proclaimed Mayor Jesse Robredo and his Liberal Party slate as winners in the local elections in Naga City.
This came after a delay in the proclamation, which also saw the deployment of three truckloads of anti-riot policemen carrying long firearms at the Naga City Hall late night yesterday, due to a petition filed by losing mayoralty bet Jojo Villafuerte. The petition had asked the board of canvassers (BOC) to postpone proclaiming Robredo pending the resolution by the poll body of the disqualification case questioning his citizenship.
But Comelec registrar Maico Julia argued that Villafuerte’s disqualification case against Robredo is not a pre-proclamation issue, and as such the BOC has no jurisdiction over it.
Julia’s position led to the walkout of the other two members of the board, the Department of Education provincial superintendent and the city prosecutor, both of whom are identified with the Villafuertes. After they left, the police contingent also withdrew from the city hall premises. Julia, upon the advise of other Comelec officials, then went on with the proclamation of Robredo, Vice Mayor Gabby Bordado, and the ten winning city councilors.
In winning his third and last term as Naga mayor, Robredo garnered around 37,000 votes, posting a 26,000-vote margin over Villafuerte, barangay captain of Peñafrancia and nephew of Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte. Robredo also won over Villafuerte in the 2004 elections, whose outcome was almost similar — Robredo getting 36,000 votes, or 70 percent of total votes cast for mayor, as against Villafuerte’s 14,000 votes (30 percent).
The Robredo ticket also extended its winning run since 1992 by scoring another sweep of local seats, with its 10th-placed candidate for councilor enjoying a lead of more than 10,000 votes against the highest-placed bet from the rival party, Kampi.
Meanwhile, the Comelec is set to hear Robredo’s disqualification case this coming Tuesday.
Naga city hall under siege? | May 18, 2007
THREE truckloads of anti-riot policemen carrying long firearms have reportedly massed up in front of the Naga City Hall late tonight where some 500 Nagueños are staging a vigil awaiting the proclamation of the winners of the May 14 elections.
The police contingent from the Regional Mobile Group, which grew from just a single platoon early in the day, is said to be under the command of Col. Romeo Mapalo, Philippine National Police provincial director.
With all the votes already canvassed, incumbent Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo has amassed around 37,000 votes to post a commanding 26,000-vote lead over rival Jojo Villafuerte, barangay captain of Peñafrancia and nephew of Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte. The outcome is almost a repeat of the result of the 2004 elections when Robredo got 36,000 votes, or 70 percent of total votes cast for mayor.
Robredo’s Liberal Party ticket is also set to extend its winning run, scoring another sweep of local seats, with its 10th-placed candidate for councilor enjoying a lead of more than 10,000 votes against the highest-placed bet from the rival party, Kampi.
Despite this though, the city board of canvassers (BOC) has yet to proclaim Robredo as the winning mayor. Why the delay, Robredo says he can only suspect to be the handiwork of political rivals. A Villafuerte ally, he says, sits in the BOC.
Though he wonders what the police’s “intimidating presence” in city hall is for, Robredo says they are already used to these tactics, adding that they will just keep vigil until they are proclaimed.
Tony de Leon on June 1, 2007
i am a bicolano since birth, though i am not in philippines today for more than 10 years,i do believe that the re-electionist robredo has truly won the naga city highest post…he has shown that he has done a lot of improvement in his area of jurisdiction….naguenos truly re elect him because of his tremendous achievement and his credentials speak for itself……to jess robredo uragon ka talaga MANOY