GAPAN CITY – The Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (NEPPO) has deployed seven policemen to maintain the peace and order at the vicinity of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office here over the weekend.
This after the registration of voters was stopped for almost two days after a brother of Mayor Ernesto Natividad allegedly “choked” an election officer.
The mayor said he has yet to talk with his brother, identified as Romeo Natividad after the incident.
However, Ernesto said it will not happen if only Comelec officials acted on his complaint against Belen Villasis De Vera, chief of the local election office.
In a complaint before the police, Election Officer II Herbert Santiago said he was attending to registrants at about 2 p.m. Wednesday when Romeo, with a gun tucked on waist, confronted him and allegedly hurled invectives.
Accompanied by unnamed bodyguards, Romeo, who is also called Miong or Master, reportedly told Santiago: “Namumuro ka na.”
He said the suspect then grabbed him by the neck and was about to punch him when restrained by his aides. Romeo then left the office.
After knowing the incident, De Vera immediately stopped the registration and ordered to bring the machines to the Comelec provincial office in Cabanatuan City.
“I have to consider first the safety of my men,” she said.
The incident reportedly stemmed from a complaint from some registrants who found the process of registration “too strict” for them.
The registrants then reported the incident to the mayor’s office for help, prompting the mayor’s brother to rush to the Comelec office which is located at the 2nd floor of the city hall. The mayor’s office is at the ground floor.
“But there should never be any physical contact. My office never played bias against any party,” said De Vera.
She added that they have established requirements for registration and the same is observed for every registrant.
But the mayor said the Comelec, where relatives of Vice Mayor Christian Tinio are reportedly employed, has been favoring the latter.
Tinio, son of former Vice Gov. Oscar Tinio, is reportedly eyeing the mayoralty post against Natividad’s wife in 2010.
Santiago said he has no reason to be biased. “Why will I do that?” he told journalists.
Lawyer Emmanuel Ignacio, Comelec regional director for Central Luzon, said they have referred the incident to the poll body’s law department for appropriate legal action. “That’s a criminal offense, if you ask me,” he said, referring to the choking incident.
The registration resumed Friday afternoon.
This after the registration of voters was stopped for almost two days after a brother of Mayor Ernesto Natividad allegedly “choked” an election officer.
The mayor said he has yet to talk with his brother, identified as Romeo Natividad after the incident.
However, Ernesto said it will not happen if only Comelec officials acted on his complaint against Belen Villasis De Vera, chief of the local election office.
In a complaint before the police, Election Officer II Herbert Santiago said he was attending to registrants at about 2 p.m. Wednesday when Romeo, with a gun tucked on waist, confronted him and allegedly hurled invectives.
Accompanied by unnamed bodyguards, Romeo, who is also called Miong or Master, reportedly told Santiago: “Namumuro ka na.”
He said the suspect then grabbed him by the neck and was about to punch him when restrained by his aides. Romeo then left the office.
After knowing the incident, De Vera immediately stopped the registration and ordered to bring the machines to the Comelec provincial office in Cabanatuan City.
“I have to consider first the safety of my men,” she said.
The incident reportedly stemmed from a complaint from some registrants who found the process of registration “too strict” for them.
The registrants then reported the incident to the mayor’s office for help, prompting the mayor’s brother to rush to the Comelec office which is located at the 2nd floor of the city hall. The mayor’s office is at the ground floor.
“But there should never be any physical contact. My office never played bias against any party,” said De Vera.
She added that they have established requirements for registration and the same is observed for every registrant.
But the mayor said the Comelec, where relatives of Vice Mayor Christian Tinio are reportedly employed, has been favoring the latter.
Tinio, son of former Vice Gov. Oscar Tinio, is reportedly eyeing the mayoralty post against Natividad’s wife in 2010.
Santiago said he has no reason to be biased. “Why will I do that?” he told journalists.
Lawyer Emmanuel Ignacio, Comelec regional director for Central Luzon, said they have referred the incident to the poll body’s law department for appropriate legal action. “That’s a criminal offense, if you ask me,” he said, referring to the choking incident.
The registration resumed Friday afternoon.
