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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Complaint filed vs Cortes for watchers with his photo, ballot number

Complaint filed vs Cortes for watchers with his photo, ballot number

Published May 12, 2025 09:26 pm
CEBU CITY – The camp of a mayoral candidate in Mandaue City has complained about the presence of watchers possessing IDs bearing the name and ballot number of another candidate.
Incumbent Cebu Provincial Board Member Jonkie Ouano complained that the presence of watchers with IDs containing the photo and ballot number of his rival, former Mayor Jonas Cortes, inside polling precincts was illegal.
A complaint was filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) over the issue.
The complainant, Neon Luther Ylagan of Barangay Labogon, cited violation of Article XXII, Election Offenses, Paragraph (k) of Batas Pambansa Bilang 881 or the Omnibus Election Code.
The law provides: “It is unlawful to solicit votes or undertake any propaganda on the day of registration before the board of election inspectors and on the day of election, for or against any candidate or any political party within the polling place and with a radius of 30 meters thereof.”
The supposed watchers of Cortes wore IDs containing “#2 sa BALOTA JONAS CORTES” in large and prominent font, along with the number “2,” which corresponds to his official number on the ballot. These IDs were worn inside the precincts and the polling place by the watchers.
“Such act constitutes unlawful electioneering as it directly solicits votes and promotes the candidacy of Jonas Cortes within the prohibited area and during the prohibited period, in clear violation of the law,” the complaint added.
After receiving the report, Comelec-7 Regional Director Francisco Pobe ordered the prohibition of watchers with IDs bearing the photo and ballot number of a candidate inside voting centers.
Pobe said that allowing watchers with IDs containing the name and ballot number of a candidate “may be tantamount to vote buying and partisan political activity within the polling precincts,” Pobe said in a directive issued to regional election directors.

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Mandaue City Cebu Mayor Jonas Cortes Jonkie Oauno
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