Election officers in 3 Visayas cities reshuffled

BACOLOD CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the re-assignments of election officers in three highly-urbanized cities in the Visayas ahead of the May 13 mid-term elections.

Bacolod City Election Officer IV Mavil Majarucon-Sia confirmed that she has received the order dated February 11 issued by Comelec Executive Director Jose M. Tolentino Jr. for the reshuffling supposed to take effect on February 12.

Based on the directive, a copy of which she provided to reporters on Friday, Majarucon-Sia will be transferred to Iloilo City.

She will be replaced by Election Officer IV Ann Janette Lamban, who is from Lapu-Lapu City.

Election Officer IV Reinier Layson, meanwhile, will leave his post in Iloilo City to assume Lamban’s former assignment.

“Pursuant to the authority vested in me through Minute Resolution No. 15-0468 dated June 23, 2015 and in the exigency of service, you are hereby reassigned effective February 12,” Tolentino said in the directive.

Majarucon-Sia said after receiving the order last week, she requested to extend the date of her assumption as election officer of Iloilo City.

“I needed at least a week to wind up my activities in Comelec-Bacolod,” she said.

On February 19, Majarucon-Sia said Layson will turn over his post to her, and she will take over as acting election officer of Iloilo City.

However, she has yet to know the actual date of Lamban’s assumption of office in Bacolod City.

“The activities in Bacolod are almost done. We have finalized the list of voters and the list of the electoral board is almost finished,” Majarucon-Sia said. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062124

Comelec-Bacolod tells bets to follow common poster areas

BACOLOD CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) here is reminding candidates to follow the rules on designated common poster areas as the campaign period for national positions start this week.

A day after the campaign for senators and party-list groups began on Tuesday, City Election Officer Mavil Majarucon-Sia led her staff in checking the compliance and they were able to take down illegally posted campaign materials in some areas around the city.

Marajucon-Sia said on Wednesday, they were able to go around in about 10 villages, and took down several posters and tarpaulins.

Personnel of Commission on Elections in Bacolod City take down illegally posted campaign materials on Wednesday (Feb.13, 2019).
*Photo courtesy of Comelec-Bacolod*

“For now, we can only take down the posters of those running for senators and partylist representatives. Although we have observed the violations are not blatant,” she said.

Marajucon-Sia noted that local coordinators of some senatorial candidates have taken down their large campaign tarpaulins before February 12.

During the “Operation Baklas” on Wednesday, they were able to take down only less than 10 campaign materials since the rest were already removed.

In Bacolod, the Comelec has identified at least 92 common poster areas in the 61 barangays for the May 13 elections.

Among these are located in covered courts, gymnasiums, areas near the barangay halls, and vacant lots along the highways.

Campaign materials with size not exceeding two feet by three feet can also be posted in a private property with consent of the lot owner.

Marajucon-Sia said as the campaign period continues, the Comelec-Bacolod personnel will try to conduct inspections at least twice a week to monitor the candidates’ compliance with the rules on common poster areas.

Candidates whose campaign posters are installed on trees may be charged for violating Section 3 of Republic Act 3571, which prohibits the cutting, destroying or injuring of planted or growing trees, flowering plants and shrubs or plants of scenic value along public roads, in plazas, parks other than national parks, school premises or in any other public ground.

Violators may be charged with an election offense, which is punishable with one to six years in jail, disqualification from holding public office and deprivation of the right to vote. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061937

Comelec urges Bacolod bets to promote clean, peaceful polls

BACOLOD CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged the local candidates here to promote clean and peaceful elections on May 13.

City Election Officer Mavil Majarucon-Sia made the call after the Comelec, together with the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, led a unity walk, prayer rally, and peace covenant signing at the Bacolod public plaza on Sunday, January 13.

“We just want to remind them, our mandate is to make sure that we have clean, honest and credible elections. They have to bear with us, if from time to time, we send them notices in relation to their violations of the campaign rules,” she said.

Some of the candidates in Bacolod City led by Rep. Greg Gasataya (2nd from left) and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (right) after the prayer rally and signing of the peace covenant at the Bacolod public plaza on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019.
*Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver*

The candidates who attended the signing activity were mostly from the ruling Grupo Progreso led by reelectionists Rep. Greg Gasataya and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who both said their presence shows their support to the call of the poll body.

Part of the covenant read: “I sign this Integrity Pledge for free, orderly honest, peaceful and credible elections, and through my words and actions commit to abide by the tenets of our Constitution, election laws, rules and regulations, respecting the sanctity of our electoral exercise.”

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who went to Kalibo, Aklan, to fulfill an annual religious vow, missed the peace covenant signing, but said in a statement that he is “very willing to sign (it) and would gladly do so anytime when he comes back.”

He added that his signatures in the peace covenant in all previous elections were as good for the coming elections.

Sia said the signing of the integrity pledge during the ceremony was merely symbolic since the candidates already signed a similar document when they filed their certificates of candidacy last October.

“We hope and pray that this will be a peaceful and credible elections for Bacolod City so we can maintain our record. In the May 2016 elections, Region 6 (Western Visayas) was awarded as the most peaceful region,” she added.

Chief Insp. Ariel Pico, public information officer of BCPO, said the activity in Bacolod has been successful as part of the simultaneous kickoff of the election period nationwide.

Only a few of the candidates were not able to attend, he added.

Col. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, who attended the separate unity walk and peace covenant signing for provincial candidates in Negros Occidental at the Capitol Lagoon and Park, said the Philippine Army supports the poll body in its aim for peaceful and orderly elections.

“Our mandate is to guarantee the safety and orderliness of the coming elections. To all the stakeholders, I said if we can walk together, we can work together,” he added. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058776