VIOLENT incidents, such as, shootings, threat/harassment and alleged vote-buying during the campaign and on election day marred the conduct of the recent polls on May 9, 2022.
This came as thousands, or, as what Comelec said that over 88% of the total 949,791 registered voters, have cast their votes as early as 6 in the morning queuing.
In Garcia-Hernandez, confusion surfaced when there was no separate line for persons with disability, senior citizens and pregnant women so that they may be given priority to vote. Until some well-meaning citizens suggested to the election inspector to make a line for the disadvantage person as provided by Comelec guidelines. And the rain did not dampen the spirit of the voters here where the covered court as polling place remains partly roofless as a result of the super typhoon Odette that hit the province.
In Carmen town, police said in its press release that a vehicle owned by mayoralty bet Conchita delos Reyes and driven by a certain Jun Luayon while traveling to Poblacion Sur from barangay Montesunting “was allegedly shot by those riding an Isuzu MUX vehicle with plate No. GAB 4831 allegedly owned by Eyas Clavite.
Clavite challenged Delos Reyes in the mayoralty race in this interior town. The latter won.
“It was found out that indeed, the shooting was true, there were mark of damages caused by a fired bullet on the back portion of the Toyota Landcruiser with plate # IAN 79,” the police said.
Part of the police report said, “Isuzu MUX, in plain view doctrine, since the window was already opened, a caliber 45 firearm was found which is placed on the top of the second row seat at right side portion and a one piece of fired cartridge case of caliber 45 in front portion of the Isuzu MUX .Thereafter, the driver and the passenger was placed under arrest for violation of RA 10591 and COMELEC Gunban. They were apprised of their constitutional rights in the dialect known to them under Miranda Doctrine and the Anti-torture law. The two vehicles involve were brought to this station for proper documentations and disposition while the arrested person were brought to Municipal Officer Dra Sheila Sumatra for medical check-up, then taken in this station for proper documentation. The recovered pieces of evidence was properly turnover to Bohol Crime Laboratory Office for Ballistics Examination while the arrested suspects will be subjected to a Paraffin Test Examination. Appropriate charges are being readied for filing in court against the respondents.”
Clavite, in exclusive interview, denied the police report, saying that his drivers do not have guns as his campaign is based on clean and honest way.
Clavite narrated that the two vehicles being impounded were used by his young supporters to ferry them to their homes after the concert two days before the elections.
When his two vehicles were heading back home after the ferrying of the youth, two more vehicles allegedly blocked their way. The drivers stopped the vehicles and run for their safety because of fear.
Two days (May 6, 2022) before the said incident, the Carmen Ridge Camp, one of the attraction in Carmen town and owned by Clavite family was allegedly ransacked.
“Niadtong Mayo 6, 2022, ang akong Ridge Camp gisulong ug sobra napulo ka mga tawo. Ilang gipanguba akong kabtangan didto ug akong caretaker nalisang pag-ayo. Ato a kining gireport sa pulis, Clavite said in his statement. He said that he reported this already to the police.
He said the people of Carmen town know him. Is this the work of Eyas? Why would the drivers of his vehicles used in transporting the youth to their homes when in fact police escorted the said vehicles?
“Ug sayon ra nila mag frame up, wala kaba mahadlok nga ikaw mismo ma frame up ug kani sila mulingkod sa pagagamhanan?” (It’s easy for them to frame up, are you not afraid that you frame it up and they’re going to sit in the government?)
Clavite did not categorically name who he was referring to and who are going to sit in the municipal government.
He said, “Sa inyong pag-ila nahu ug sa akong kontra sa politika, kinsa man ang nagabuhat ug ingani? Si Eyas walay kontra ug wala nako giisip nga sila kontra. Sa inyong nahibaw-an, mabuhat bani ni Eyas?”
In Panglao town, police reported that “direct assault, resistance, disobedience and obstruction” transpired while voting was going on in barangay Tangnan, Panglao town.
In its press release, police said that “Toribio Bon (suspect) of the right age, married and a resident of the said barangay shouted at our policemen in a very loud voice and at the same time pointed a finger at them saying “you crazy policemen, you blind people.”
“Despite his actuation, PCpl Lood ordered him to calm down and advised him if he had a complaint he could go to the police station to record his complaint. Several more times Pcpl Lood ordered him to stop his actuation but suspect continued to shout and pointed his finger at the responding team and attempted to spit in PCpl Pastrano’s face and subsequently Bon grabbed the issued gun of the police officer. Seeing this, PCpl Lood made the arrest but the suspect resisted the arrest and suddenly councilor Noel Hormachuelos (V-Mayor Candidate) and Atty. Francis Erick Delambaca, husband of the candidate Daisy Delambaca intervened and helped Toribio Bon to avoid the arrest,” police press release said.
As this developed, the police filed formal cases against suspect (Bon) for Direct Assault, Resistance and Disobedience to Agent of Person in Authority. “On the other hand, separate complaints will be filed against councilor Noel Hormachuelos and Atty. Delambaca for Obstruction of Justice.”
Hormachuelos and wife of Atty. Delambaca, who belong to mayor-elect Boy Arcay, were elected as vice-mayor and councillor, respectively.
In a media interview, Bon, the former mayor here, denied the accusation. He said his yelling to the police is to call their attention to apparently do something he saw an actual vote-buying spree not far from the voting precinct.
The police did not mention in its press release if they heard Bon’s shouting or if ever there was indeed vote-buying took place in said place.
Bon told media interview that he will also file formal complaint against the police for alleged mauling him. He said he sustained wounds in some parts of his physical body.
In Candijay town, the Reach Out Candijay has condemned the shooting of one of the councilor bets here.
“Hugot natong gi kondena ang nahitabo nga pagpanghulga ngadto sa banay sa nagpapili nga kagawad sa atong lungsod nga si Anecito “Citoy” Calulo.”
The incident took place on May 8, 2022, a day before the elections. But no one was hurt and the family concerned was safe, it said.
The police here immediately conducted an investigation.
The group has offered P100,000 as reward to those who can positively pinpoint who are the perpetrators of the shooting.
“Ang Candijay nailhan nga malinawong lungsod. Busa kining matang sa panghitabo nakapakugang sa tanan, ilabi na taliwala ning panahon sa eleksyon. Dili kita mosugot nga ang atong lungsod himoan og bisan unsang matang sa krimen ug makasabwag og kahadlok sa atong mga lungsuranon,” it said. (rvo)
