HRET orders city treasurer to collect ballot boxes

By BEN BALCE
Staff member

THE House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal has ordered the city treasurer to collect the May 2016 ballot boxes for the city’s 1st congressional district in connection with the protest filed by ex-councilor Lourdes Darimbang against Rep. Rolando Uy.

The order to collect,dated Oct. 9, 2017, was signed by the secretary of the tribunal secretary Girlie Salarda.

According to Salarda, the order to collect May 2016 ballot boxes was by the direction of the tribunal and in line with HRET Precautionary Order dated Nov. 8, 2016.

Salarda also said that starting Oct. 19, 2017, the representatives of the tribunal, headed by Jason Sanchez, would collect the ballot boxes of the precincts contested in Darimbang’s case against Uy. These were listed in the order for collection of contested election paraphernalia issued by the tribunal on June 9, 2017.

Earlier, the retrieval order directed the secretary of the tribunal “to immediately take the necessary steps and action for the collection of ballot boxes containing the ballots, Voters Registration Records (VRRs), Book of voters, Election Day computerized Voter’s lists with voting records and other election documents and paraphernalia in the May 9, 2016 elections.”

City treasurer Ramon Antonio Mendoza has issued a notice to Darimbang, Uy and their parties, the city election office, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and National Movement for Free Elections in the city “to witness the undertaking.”