238 unopposed candidates in province are sure winners

When the precincts close at 3 p.m. in Negros Occidental today, a total of 238 candidates only need one vote to be declared winners as they are unopposed.

Records of the Commission on Elections in the province showed that there are 71 punong barangays and 16 barangay kagawads, and 41 Sangguniang Kabataan chairpersons and 110 SK kagawads are unopposed.
In Bacolod City, there are six unopposed candidates for punong barangay, data show.

The unopposed candidates for barangay captain in Bacolod are Hercy Sibug of Barangay 7, Anthony Jose Loth Alfredo Ayco – Barangay 15, Lope Ledesma – Barangay 24, Joseph Anthony Ortillo – Barangay 25, Jan Nico Yap – Barangay 32, and Jomarie Biasca – Barangay 31.

Candidates for SK Chairperson in barangays 24, 36 and 37, and for SK kagawads in barangays 25 and 34 are also running unopposed.

A candidate for barangay captain in Barangay 1 in Ilog town, meanwhile complained that he “caught in the act” the camp of another candidate for village chief and for kagawad allegedly distributing sample ballots with P300 bills attached to it.

Fernandez claimed that the supporters of the candidate were on board a tricycle in distributing the sample ballots.
In an interview with RMN-DYHB, he said he got the sample ballots from a family that got those from the supporters of the other candidate.

He was advised by the municipal election officer to directly file a formal complaint with the poll body’s legal department so that it can be easily decided upon.

Meanwhile, Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, provincial election supervisor, said his office has received affidavits from complainants on alleged vote buying incidents involving incumbent punong barangays in local governments in the 3rd and 4th districts of the province.

“There should be affidavits and evidence from complainants so that it will not be hearsay,” Ananoria pointed out.He added that they are verifying the reports.* (Eugene Y. Adiong)