A tale of two precincts: Both gated and populous barangays have orderly polls

Despite the big difference in population and intensity of political rivalry, both the gated subdivision of BF Homes in Parañaque City and the populous Barangay Sacred Heart in Quezon City had orderly polls on Monday.

At a polling center in BF Homes, Parañaque, volunteers and poll watchers outnumbered the few voters, mostly elderly people, who turned up early Monday morning.

 

According to Tin Rodriguez, a Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) volunteer, they were expecting 1,681 voters to turn up at the polling center. "Mas maraming dumating noong May (national) elections," she added.

 

She added that things were going smoothly at the polling center as of 8:30 a.m., although some people could not find their names on the list of registered voters.

 

"Marami lang nagalit kasi nawala sa listahan," she said. "May isang buong pamilya, noong Mayo dito bumoto, pero nawala na ngayon."

 

Percival Villanueva, 55, who was told he was assigned to a different polling center, said: "Bakit ako pinalipat-lipat? Sinabihan akong sa Phase 3 (polling center) dapat ako. Dito ako bumoto noong huling eleksyon, bakit ako biglaang pinalipat?"

 

Villanueva stressed the need to vote for his favorite candidate, who is also his relative. "Paano kung lumamang ng isang tao lang?" he added.

 

Julius Jereza, PPCRV coordinator, said aside from some people who could not find their names on the list, they have not encountered any other problems.

 

However, he noted that they "expect the worst" as BF Homes is considered one of the "areas of concern" in Metro Manila.

 

Slight tension

 

Meanwhile, at the Quezon City High School, which served as a polling center in Barangay Sacred Heart in Quezon City, PPCRV volunteer Virgie Bicera said there were some tense moments when supporters of two opposing candidates had a confrontation.

 

"Wives (of the candidates) nila nandoon. Pero sandali lang naman 'yon, dumating din ang mga pulis," she said.

 

"Isang ID raw ng isang poll watcher ng isang partido, may poison letter. Parang black propaganda against the kalaban at pinababasa sa mga botante," said a witness, who refused to be named.

 

Kamuning police inspector Dennis Francisco, however, said the tension was immediately eased. "May hindi pagkakaintindihan sa loob. Pagpunta naman nila (responding police) doon, maayos na," he said. "Mga suporters nina Alberto Flores at Antonio Pacheo."

 

"Humihingi ng assistance dahil nagkainitan," he added. "Rumesponde naman agad ang mga pulis."

 

Aside from the incident, elections were going smoothly at the polling center, where 3,643 voters are expected. "Okay pa naman so far, tahimik rito," the policeman added.

 

Marisol Roque, PPCRV coordinator, said: "Tahimik ang barangay na ito, ngayon lang nagkaroon ng initan."

 

However, compared to the national elections last May, "mahina ang voter turnout," said Bicera.

 

"Kasi siguro wala nang SK at kaunti lang ang mga tumakbo ngayon," she said.

 

But Roque noted: "Kanina, mas marami noong 7:30 a.m."

 

'Mas magulo noon'

 

Compared to the previous elections, this year was relatively more peaceful as Sangguniang Kabataan elections were postponed, said Roque.

 

"Mas maganda kung wala nang SK elections, kasi kung nandiyan pa, mas magulo," she said. "'Pag may bata, mas magulo, mas mapusok kasi sila e, kasama magulang, ganoon talaga."

 

For a previous SK chairman candidate last 2010, who refused to be named, the situation now is more peaceful. "Mas magulo noon kasi halos dumating na sa rambol. Padamihan talaga ng supporters," he said.

 

Litter

 

Meanwhile, sample ballots were seen strewn outside the school, where two parties were also giving out campaign flyers to voters.

 

Bicera said Comelec officials arrived at the area and asked the supporters to stop giving out campaign materials. However, supporters were still seen handing out sample ballots at the side of the school.

"Kaming mga suporters, namimigay kami ng mga flyers sa labas pero dumating ang Comelec at sinita na kami," said a supporter, who refused to be named.

 

A young child was seen collecting the sample ballots strewn outside the school. "Sabi po ng mama ko, para ibenta," he said, when asked what he was doing. 

 

Earlier, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. called on the public to report candidates who are illegally distributing campaign materials on election day, including those who used children, saying these candidates could face disqualification.

 

Under Section 261 of Article XXII of the Omnibus Election Code, "it is unlawful to solicit votes or undertake any propaganda on the day of registration before the board of election inspectors and on the day of election, for or against any candidate or any political party within the polling place and with a radius of thirty meters thereof." —KG, GMA News