PARALLEL COUNT. The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting in Negros Oriental continues to gather the fourth copies of the election returns from the May 9 polls. The local PPCRV is facing a dilemma as 120 out of the 1,471 clustered polling precincts have not yet released the ERs. (Photo by Judy Flores Partlow) DUMAGUETE CITY - The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) here is appealing to teachers from 120 polling precincts to release the fourth copy of the election returns (ER) from Monday's polls for parallel counting by the citizen's arm. Msgr. Julius Perpetuo S. Heruela, lead convenor of the Diocesan Electoral Board of the Diocese of Dumaguete, the umbrella group of the PPCRV and the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), told the Philippine News Agency on Friday that 120 polling precincts still have not yet given the fourth copy to them. These precincts are in Bindoy, Siaton, San Jose, Pamplona, Bais City, Jimalalud, Zamboanguita, Valencia
ELECTION DAY. Voters queue up at the South City Elementary School in Barangay Mangnao, Dumaguete City early Monday (May 9, 2022) for the national and local elections. Some VCMs in Negros Oriental reportedly malfunctioned at the start of the voting but were later fixed. (Photo by Judy Flores Partlow) DUMAGUETE CITY - Minor problems were reported at different polling places at the start of the elections in Negros Oriental on Monday morning. Reports that reached the Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB) of the Diocese of Dumaguete, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), included some malfunctioning vote-counting machines (VCMs) in polling precincts. As voters flocked early in the day, the voter assistance desks of the PPCRV were able to assist those who had to double-check or find their assigned polling precincts. Convenor of the DEB, Msgr. Julius Perpetuo S. Heruela, said he was hopeful that the generally peaceful atmo
Comelec Regional Director Dennis Ausan, Diocesan Electoral Board convenor Msgr. Julius Heruela, and Comelec Commissioner George Erwin Garcia (l-r) attend
APPEAL. (From left to right) Comelec Regional Director Dennis Ausan, Diocesan Electoral Board convenor Msgr. Julius Heruela, and Comelec Commissioner George Erwin Garcia attend a peace covenant signing in Negros Oriental on Monday (April 25, 2022). Garcia appealed for public understanding of the glitches encountered by some users of Comelec's recently activated online precinct finder. (Photo by Judy Flores Partlow) DUMAGUETE CITY - An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday appealed for understanding from the electorate on the poll body's recently activated online precinct finder for registered voters which showed glitches for some users. Commissioner George Erwin Garcia made the appeal during a peace covenant signing here prior to the final meeting of the Central Visayas Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC). "The precinct finder was just activated last Friday but due to scores of people immediately using it, certain problems were detected but
PEACE PACT. Reelectionists Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and House Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., and lawyer George Arnaiz, who is seeking the 2nd district congressional seat, pose for a photo opportunity at the sidelines of a peace covenant signing in Sibulan town. Provincial and church officials expressed elation over the presence of Degamo and Teves, who were known to be at odds perennially, during the event held on Monday (April 25, 2022). (PNA photo by Judy Flores Partlow) DUMAGUETE CITY - In an unprecedented move, political rivals in Negros Oriental on Monday showed up for a peace covenant signing that elated law enforcement, civilian, and church officials. Known publicly as being always at odds with each other and sometimes trading barbs through "blind items" on social media and other platforms, re-electionists Gov. Roel Degamo and House Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. of the 3rd congressional district even obliged to a photo opportunity together. Attendees in the peace covenant si