Capiceño brgy, SK voters enjoy fair weather

ROXAS City – Capiceño voters for yesterday's barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections enjoyed a favorable weather condition in the province despite tropical storm "Katring" affecting Northern Luzon areas.

"But scattered rainshowers may be experienced in the province anytime," said Cesar Aspera, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration here.

Provincial Election Supervisor Wil Arceño earlier called on registered Capiceño voters to be counted.

He also reminded the electorates and aspirants for the village and youth council seats to set aside partisan politics and help authorities ensure peaceful and orderly elections.

Counting and canvassing of votes and the proclamation of winning candidates will start immediately after the casting of votes, he added. (A. Lumaque/PIA)/PN
77 villages placed under election watchlist

ROXAS City – Some 77 barangays in Capiz were placed under the Election Watchlist Areas (EWAS) by the Joint Security Coordinating Center here.

Police Provincial Director Renato Gumban disclosed that of the said barangays, 27 were included in Category 1 while 50 were included under Category 2.

Gumban explained that Category 1 include those barangays that had election related incidents and intense political rivalry based on the last elections.

He added that the 50 barangays under Category 2 were noted to have presence of communist groups.

Gumban stressed that despite some tensions among barangay candidates and their alliances, yesterday's barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections were generally peaceful and orderly.

Early yesterday morning, Tabuc Barangay Captain Baltazar Belvis together with his body guard Nick Estapia were allegedly ambushed while onboard a boat in Brgy. Tabuc, Pontevedra.

Pontevedra police officials revealed that empty shells of caliber .45 pistol and M16 armalite rifle were recovered in the crime scene.

Investigation on the case continues. (Jemin B. Guillermo/PIA)/PN

NO BALLOTS, TOOLS
Elections in 20 brgys postponed

BY FELIPE V. CELINO

ROXAS City – The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in 20 barangays in Capiz were postponed until October 27.

Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Wil Arceño recommended postponing the polls in 11 barangays are in Tapaz, five in Jamindan and two in Sapian towns.

Among the barangays were Aglupacan, Bato-bato, Buri, Hilwan, Mabini, Maliao, Minan, Rizal Norte, Rizal Sur, Sinonod, Siya, Tacayan and Taganhin.

The postponement was due to the absence of official ballots and other election paraphernalia.

Arceño said it was difficult bringing the election paraphernalia, especially in the 13 upland barangays in Tapaz.

He said the barangays in Tapaz “could be reached in two days.”

A chopper is needed to transport the election materials to the said barangays, he said.

He added that the election paraphernalia for said areas were received only yesterday morning.

Arceño said more than 8,000 official ballots were lacking for the seven barangays in Sapian and Jamindan.

Polls in some barangays in the province may have also been delayed as official ballots and other paraphernalia have yet to arrive at the polling precincts, he said.

Capiz has a total of 473 barangays with 425,621 registered voters for the barangay elections and 33,350 for the SK.

The Commission on Elections established 1,372 clustered precincts for yesterday's polls. (With reports from Jemin B. Guillermo/PIA)/PN