OLLP PCCRV encounters trilogy drama at voting center

At about 11AM, at the height of election at the Doña Soledad Dolor Elementary School, one of the voting centers of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bangkal, a certain mayoral candidate by the name of Hannibal Elizalde harassed at the school gate shouting, “Why are people not allowed to enter the school premises?”

Voters were seen by that time falling in line along pedestrian sidewalk leading towards the school gate, and were allowed to enter inside the school premises only by tens at a time to ensure crowd control and proper physical distancing since there were only very limited rooms for holding area, the school has no covered court and the school ground was flooded with water due to continuous rain.

“Who ordered not to allow the voters to enter?” complained Elizalde, at the PPCRV desk. Soon Madame Asuncion Infiesto came on site and introduced herself as the School Principal.

“From what authority do you give orders to prohibit the voters from entering the gate?” Elizalde shouted at Infiesto. “What you are doing is an intervention to the election,” he continued yelling at her.

Infiesto explained the situation to Elizalde and to mollify the situation, the former was forced to allow all voters to enter the school vicinity at once despite the threat of social distancing since the school ground was still flooded with rain water, and no rooms were available for holding area at that time.

At about 6PM, a voter Rachel Balansag approached the PPCRV desk and complained that her vote was casted by unknown person and affixed a signature on her name with “R. Balansag” at precinct #1531B, and she showed her credentials to us and to Principal Infiesto who came on site. Infiesto assisted her and brought her to her precinct to discuss the matter with her BEIs in order for her to exercise her right to suffrage.

At about 6:30PM, the electric transformer was shut down and power line of four clusters were cut off. The principle immediately called the electric company which ensured her to restore electric power within 30 minutes. PPRCV desk alarmed the guards and police force to secure the gate, and the remaining voters within the vicinity who have not yet voted were ensured that they can still cast their votes soon as the electric power is restored. No further incident was recorded.

OLLP PPCRV was spearheaded by OLLP PSAM Coordinator Ofelia Bautista. Foods were provided for PPCRV volunters by the parish through the effort and blessings of Parish Priest Henry Campeon. (Vonz M. Hijada, MAT, OLLP SoCCom)