Gaisano Mall, J.C. Aquino Ave., Butuan City
Heres some excerpts of a letter by Ben Ranque, a former executive4 officer of the Foundation for Clean Elections in Cagayan de Oro City in reaction to the January 16, 2008 report of Gemma Tenorio of the Mindanao Gold Star Daily that Gov. Joe Zubiri calms worried Bukidnon folk on Senator Migz threatened Senate seat.
“To me, Gov. Zubiri was only acting in defensive mode as he is the father of a son who is now in trouble over recent findings in the ongoing revision of ballots contested by the young Pimentel. The camp of Pimentel has uncovered massive cheating in favor of Migz Zubiri in the province of Maguindanao and some municipalities in Sharif Kabunsuan, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan and Sulu.
Pimentel’s camp has protested the deduction of thousands of votes as a result of dagdag bawas operations in the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotobato, Sultan Kudarat and Basilan. Pimentel is still contesting about 2,000 precincts compared to Migz counter protest of 77 million (as claimed by his father).
Recently, the nation was shocked when it was reported by different media outlests that the ballot boxes from Sultan Kudarat, Shariff Kabunsuan contained no election documents or were empty when these are opened in the tribunal. The young Zubiri was credited with 30,000 votes in this municipality. But with wha5t was found out, it means he could have lost. The discovery can make the young Pimentel lead. The two had only a difference of 18,519 when Zubiri was hastily proclaimed by the Abalos National Board of Canvassers.
As of Jan. 24, our information on the recount of completed municipalities in Maguindanao province revealed that fake ballots discovered can deduct 115,000 from that of Zubiri’s total votes while only 21,000 will be deducted from Koko Pimentel. That aside from the findings of five municipalities of Maguindanao whose ballot boxes were empty of election documentes, especially the ballots. In these towns, Koko will lose 2,790 votes while Zubiri will lose 33,888 votes. There are more towns like this.
No wonder some people from Bukidnon where Zubiri hails, are alarmed. As for Gov. Zubiri to tell his people that the protest will not prosper and can be delayed by the counter protest of his sonm is filing only shows arrogance, a clear proof of guilt and undermine the intelligence, capability, and integrity of the Supreme Court Justices in the SET, including the senators who are from the administration and the opposition. Gov. Zubiri should have told his people to calm down and just let the wheels of justice come out for the truth rather than poisoning their minds by pre judging the outcome of the electoral protest of Koko.
(Update): The Pimentel camp is calling the Board of Election Inspectors in Mangundadatu, Maguindanao to explained the wet ballots inside the ballot boxes from the said municipalities. The ballots were so wet that the entries are not readable. The inquiry will focus whether the wetting of the ballots is intentional or not.
***
Governor Joe Zubiri described that recall elections is tedious and expensive and advised Valencia ex Mayor Jose Galario to just wait for 2010 elections.
“Recall election is in the law, but it is tedious and expensive. I do not find any reason for a recall elections against Leandro in his 6 months of service in Valencia. He did not commit any serious ground for recall like murder or whatever Ombudsman cases filed against Leandro. Dili man ground for recall kay reklamo ra man na sa mga empleyado. Basin suportahan ko pa ang recall, lisod kana, very, very, difficult, tedious and expensive. Kinahanglan kana ug 20 percent signatures o 17,000 sa 80,000 sa total voters sa Valencia. Wait na lang sa 2010 elections, kumbate na usab kita.
Galario reacted,
“Saludo ko nga siya ang grandfather sa politics in Bukidnon. Unta ihatag niya ang neutrality sa Valencia. To erase the doubts that Catarata won in the last elections because of the influence of Gov. Zubiri, I appeal to the governor to stay neutral on my petition for a recall elections, let them (Catarata camp) prove that they are really the winner.”
To which Mayor Leandro Catarata reacted,
“I am thankful nga is Mr. Galario dunay pangandoy sa kinabuhi sama niana.”
Mr. Galario (oi!) 
By Gemma Tenorio of Mindanao Gold Star Daily.
***
Happy fiesta to the good people of Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte who are celebrating the feast of Our Lady of the Candles or Nuestra Sñra de Candelaria, which more officially known as the Presentation of Our Lord.
Today is the tenth year of the tragic Cebu Pacific Flight 387 crash in Mt. Sumagaya, in the Mount Balatucan mountain range. A dark pall of gloom enveloped Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental that day. Heres an article recalling the experiences of that fateful day in 1998.
