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Mayor cites police, military for orderly polls |
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Source Sunstar
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Wednesday, 31 October 2007 |
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MAYOR Celso Lobregat Tuesday recognized the efforts of the police and the military and all the residents of Zamboanga that pave way for the peaceful, orderly, and honest conduct of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in Zamboanga Monday.
Lobregat, likewise, thanked the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the candidates and all sectors that contributed to the success of the electoral exercise.
Despite complaints on disenfranchisement of voters, alleged violations committed by some candidates and supporters and petty quarrels among contenders, the election in the city was generally peaceful and orderly, according to Lobregat.
“We thank the Zamboangueños for their support and cooperation,” the mayor emphasized.
Initially, the mayor expected a high turnout of voters but official reports from the local Elections Office reveal that only a little over 50 percent of the voters went out to cast their votes last Monday.
Lobregat noticed that while there was disenfranchisement, a number of registered voters also did not bother to vote. “There were many who did not bother to vote, more than those who couldn’t find their names on the list,” he said.
On this aspect, the mayor said, the Comelec has to exert double efforts to truly cleanse the list of voters.
Meanwhile, Zamboanga City was one of the areas where the barangay and SK elections were conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner.
While some intense rivalry was noted in some barangays dubbed as areas of concern, the election in the city turned out well over all.
Lobregat said the support and cooperation of all the sectors concerned helped contribute to the success of the Monday’s activity.
“But now that the elections are over, let us all unite and move forward for the betterment of the community and the city”, the mayor added. (Sheila E. Covarrubias)
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