Mabinay Mayor Uy assumes office amids continuing rejection, protests of residents

The new mayor of Mabinay town in Negros Oriental, Mayor Ernie “Django” Uy assumed office on June 30, amids protests of many residents “shocked” by the results of the May polls.

The protests started right after the May 9 election, with thousands joining, Bonifacio Lagunero, a pastor of the Bible Apostolic Church, said, saying the election result is “shocking, doubtful,” citing some instances.

“Only the voters identified with Uy… those wearing rubber bands with the color of their group were the first ones allowed to enter the voting precincts. Power interruptions in some parts of Mabinay also took place,” Pastor Lagunero said, adding that they have witnessed other incidents in the conduct of election that they “cannot accept the results.”

In acknowledging that they have supported Uy’s opponent during the recent election, Carlo Ruiz, the Baptist church pastor, saying he is not a liar, added that they cannot accept the fact that their “voice was not reflected in the result of the counting.”

Pastor Lagunero said they have launched a signature campaign which, as of June 28 already reached 26,060 signatures. “That’s bigger than the number of votes that Uy got which was just about 24,000.” Ruiz got 14,000 votes.

Not Paid

“Nobody told us to organize this rally. Nobody paid us. I am a pastor. My credibility will be destroyed if the people will know that I am being paid,” he said.

Pastor Lagunero said they want the Commission of Election (Comelec) to listen to their “claims of numerous glitches, anomalies during the conduct of the polls.”

On June 28, he also told newsmen, “scores of residents from various barangays of Mabinay were not allowed to hold a peaceful prayer rally and motorcycles belonging to us were even apprehended and brought to the police station.”

Cheating

Rudy Mahistan of Brgy. Pantaw, meanwhile claimed that many of them are asking where their votes went, alleging “there was massive cheating that happened.

Mahistan said the people of Mabinay do not want Uy to sit as mayor “because he does not have the true mandate of the people.”

Ruiz accepts defeat

Ruiz, the opposition candidate, said his group has accepted defeat, “but we can’t turn our back on the people who are asking where their votes went.”

Ruiz said the signature campaign for a recall election will be used by their lawyers.

He called on supporters of his Lucky 7 Team to stay calm as he appealed to local authorities to respect the right of the people to assemble and air their demands peacefully.
Mayor Uy

Uy, in interviews with the media, said there was no fraud and the people have already already expressed their choices.

Meanwhile, in the videos is defeated mayoralty candidate Carlo Ruiz on his reaction to his supporters’ protests.* (Arman P. Toga)