Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25) — Around 42% of Cavite’s 7th district voters took part in the special polls to elect their new representative, which was lower than what the Commission on Elections (Comelec) expected.
“It has been confirmed 42.11% voter turnout on the total number of votes counted, which is 149,581 out of the total 355,184 registered voters,” Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Sunday, as they proclaimed Crispin Diego “Ping” Remulla as the winner.
He will replace his father, Jesus Crispin \”Boying\” Remulla, who vacated the post after being appointed Justice secretary of the Marcos administration.
Garcia earlier said a majority (around 50% to 53%) of registered voters from the towns of Amadeo, Indang, and Tanza, and the city of Trece Martires went out to cast their ballots. Poll watchdog National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) also had the same observation.
When asked why there was a lower voter turnout, Garcia told reporters this was expected but underscored the unknown reasons in such scenarios.
“Sa ating karanasan sa mga special election at plebisito, hindi rin po natin alam kung bakit hindi ito binibigyan tuon ng mga kababayan natin,” he told a press conference.
“Sobra po, massive ‘yung information dissemination and education campaign na ginawa ng provincial election supervisor at ng lahat ng election officers ng iba’t ibang municipalities at siyudad sa iba’t ibang distrito ng Cavite,” he added.
[Translation: In our experience with special elections and plebiscite, we don’t know why our countrymen do not give them much attention. The provincial election supervisor and all election officers from municipalities and cities in the Cavite districts conducted a massive information dissemination and education campaign.]
Comelec data showed the following voter turnout in Cavite’s 7th legislative district:
— Amadeo: 46.01% or 13,422 valid ballots counted out of 29,171 registered voters
— Indang: 46.21% or 21,515 out of 46,552
— Tanza: 40% or 63,987 out of 159,950
— Trece Martires: 42.31% or 50,567 out of 119,511
He said, so far, the plebiscite in Maguindanao in September last year had the highest voter turnout in special elections and plebiscites, where locals decided to divide the province into two.
The voter turnout is 86.93%, the highest in a province-wide plebiscite based on percentage. The creation of the Compostela Valley from Davao del Norte in 1998 ranks second.
“To a certain extent, nakakapanghinayang ‘yong nagagastos na pondo ng taumbayan tapos ang boboto lang ay kakaunti,” said Garcia, who also voted as a resident of Indang.
“Sana po sa mga susunod na ganitong klaseng halalan, mare-realize ng ating kababayan na may ginagastos ang Comelec na pondo ng sambayanan na sana equally ay may karampatang katungkulan din sila na tapatan sa pamamagitan ng pagboto,” he urged Filipinos.
[Translation: To a certain extent, it is regrettable for government to spend so much funds and then have a low voter turnout. I hope in elections like this, our countrymen will realize that the Comelec spent government funds and that they have a corresponding duty to fulfill by voting.]
Garcia also clarified the poll body prints out ballots and creates necessary paraphernalia based on the official count of registered voters and not on estimated tallies.
“Observers noted that some members of EBs (Election Boards) appeared frustrated during the closing process because the scissors provided were not big enough to cut the unused ballots, and the envelopes provided to them for the unused ballots were too small,” Namfrel said.
The special congressional polls closed at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
“Pagkatapos na pagkatapos na mabigyan siya ng certificate of proclamation ng ating board of canvassers, kaagad ay pwede siya makapanumpa sa kahit na sinong otorisadong mag-administer ng oath,” the Comelec chief said Saturday.
“Pagkatapos sa Lunes, pwede na siyang mag-assume ng kanyang position bilang representante ng ika-pitong distrito ng Cavite,” he added.
[Translation: Right after the winner is given the certificate of proclamation by the board of canvassers, he can already be sworn in by anyone authorized to administer the oath. By Monday, he can assume the position of Cavite 7th district representative.]
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