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Police and soldiers are on full red alert as more than 355,000 registered voters are expected to go to die polls today to elect a new government for Zamboanga City. Up for grabs will be the mayorship, the vice mayor-ship, 16 council seats and two representatives for Congress. The City, which, was divided into two early this year, includes 98 barangays. The first legislative district is represented in the Lower House for the 37 barangays while the second legislative district is represented for the 61 barangays. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Regional Office in Western Mindanao said that2,371 poll precincts in the different barangays would be opened from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. / District 1 has the high-Zest number of precincts with 1,279. It is also highest in the number of registered voters with 178,922. Precincts in District H have 1,092 with 177,032 registered voters. Chief Supt. Jaime Caringal, police director in, Region 9, assigned Sr. Supt. Mario Fermindoza to lead a contingent of police for Zamboanga City under the Task Force Hope. Caringal said that all systems go for the police to secure and protect the electorates against any untoward incidence that might happen in today's political exercise. Quoting PNP Chief Oscar Calderon's statement, Caringal said the role of police in today's national and local elections would be to keep the peace and to avoid I getting political. . Muftis reiterated their earlier call for all Muslim electorates to settle for a moment and reflection as well as dua prayers before they will cast their votes that they maybe guided by the words from the Holy Qur'an and the Hadith of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). They asserted that peaceful 'processes through which reforms are achieved for good governance or administration of public affairs for general welfare constitute a jihad in its highest form. Francis Cantitlo, vice chairman of Namfrel based at the Ateneo De Zamboanga University, said they are hoping for a clean, honest, orderly and peaceful election today. "It's all systems go as far as NAMREL is concerned. Our tabulation is ready. We hope a highest turn out of votes and we appeal to the people to go out and vote wisely," Cantillo added. The persons who are officially candidates for the various positions in this city for the 2007 elections are the following: House of Representatives : Eldigario "Eldy" / "Doc" Gonzales (District 1), Maria Isabelle "Beng" Climaco (District 1), Susan "Sue" Delos Reyes (District 2), Samuel "Sam" Enesando (District 2), Erico "Erbie" Fabian (District 2). City Mayor: Crisanto ,''MonSr;'iw'Cris" Dela Cruz, Celso "Celso" Lobregat, Cleofe Carmila "Babes" Cajucom, and Sonny "Sonny Boy' Sakiltn. City Vice Mayor: Rodolfo "Capt." Bayot, Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe, Ismael "Maing" Jaalam, Vicente "Vic" Solis, and Vilabel "Mila" Velasquez. City Councilors: Ethelinda "Lynet" Abarro (D-l), Ludivilo “Vic" Alvarez, (D-l), Venusto "Ven” Anova (D-l), Ricardo "Ric" Baban (D-1), Luis aNoning" Biel III (D-1), Jaimp.;"Jimmy” Cabato (D-l), Joaquin "Sonny" Diaz. Jr. (D-1), Maximo "Max" Enriquez (D-I), Cesar "Jawo" Jimenez Jr. (D-l), Roberto "Bong" Ko (D-l), Edris Lim "Ustadz Edris" (D-l), Rodolfo "Rudy" Lim (D-l), Giovanni "John" Luistro (D-1), Manuelito "Manny" Luna (D-1), Charlie "Charlie" Mariano (D-l), Antonio "Jun" Orendain Jr. (D-l), Mario "Mar" Roca (D-l), Basilio "Val" Rusil (D-l), Melchor Rey "Mel" Sadain (D-l), Abduraman "Lolong" Tagayan (D-I), Rogelio "Gerky" Valeso Jr. (D-l), Gerasimo "Gerry" Acufia (D-2), Susan "Susan" Cabato (D-2), Reinerio "Col" Camins (D-2), Reynerio "Rey" Candido (D-2), Luis "Titong" Climaco, Abelardo "Nonie" Dondoyano (D-2), Asbi "Bing" Edding (D-2), Juan Climaco II Elago (D-2), Jose Manuel "Nikko" Fabian, Mercy "Mercy" Arquiza (D-2), Benjamin "Nonong" Guingona (D-2), Cesar "Sang" Iturralde (D-2), Rene "Rene" Natividad (D-2), Roel "Elong" Natividad (D-2), Lilia "Maam Lilia" Nufio (D-2), Ernesto "Toy" Perez (D-2), Eduardo "Eddie" Saavedra (D-2), and Jimmy "Jimmy" Villaflores(D-2). Meanwhile, Mayor Celso Lobregat has called on the people to be vigilant and alert and to cooperate and support in the effort to ensure the conduct of a clean, honest and orderly elections today. Lobregat issued the call, as over 360,000 voters in the city will go out to cast their votes in the different polling centers set up by the Commission on Elections in the city. "We appeal to the people to go out and vote and please vote wisely,"Lobregat said. He said that the people should actively take part in the decision making, a mandated right of every citizen based on the Constitution. Lobregat also reminded the electorate of the new system of electing local officials as a result of the creation of a new district in Zamboanga. Based on the new law, which he, then a .congressman in 2004 sponsored, the elective positions for the city of Zamboanga will be one mayor, one vice mayor, and one congressman' and 8 councilors for each of the two districts of Zamboanga. District I will cover the west coast barangays while District II will include the barangays located in the east coast of the city with Veterans Avenue as the dividing line. District I has a total of 178,922 while District II has a total of 177,032 votes. On the other hand, Lobregat said the city government in coordination with k the COMELEC, police, military and other volunteer groups are working towards an orderly, peaceful and honest conduct of elections today. The police and military are implementing a comprehensive security plan dubbed "OPLAN: HOPE" which stands for Honest, orderly and peaceful elections. It includes the deployment of security personnel in strategic places, assignment of security escorts in the transport of ballot boxes and other measures. Polling centers nationwide will open at exactly 7 a.m. and close at 3:00 p.m. for the synchronized local and national elections. Up for grabs are 12 senatorial seats for the national level and one mayor, one vice mayor and one congressman and 8 councilors for each of the two districts of Zamboanga for the local level. (Hader Glang, City Hall PIO)
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