BOC leaves SP hall for today’s session

MEMBERS of Davao City’s board of canvassers and other staff of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) occupying the session hall for the canvassing and proclamation of newly-elected local officials left the Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday to give way for the City Council’s regular session today.

This was confirmed by BOC chair lawyer Aimee Ampoloquio yesterday afternoon.

The session hall was used for the canvassing of votes and proclamation of elected officials from May 13 until yesterday.

Charito Santos, SP secretary, earlier said the Comelec wrote a letter of intent to use the SP session hall and conference room for the proceedings.

Section 11 of Comelec Resolution 9648 stated the canvassing of votes should be held at the session hall of a local government unit’s august body.

The BOC had proclaimed the winning local candidates on May 15, but it did not include the councilors in the second district as the PCOS machines of two clustered precincts malfunctioned and the CF card of another precinct was defective.

Thus, the Comelec extended the use of the session hall until yesterday, even as the board had already proclaimed

the second district candidates on Friday night.

Today marks the first regular session that the 16th Council will hold after the midterm elections.

Most of the incumbent councilors ran for relection and won.

The councilors-elect of the first district are Edgar Ibuyan, Leah Librado, Melchor Quitain, Nilo Abellera Jr., and Joanne Bonguyan; from second district are Louie John Bonguyan, Al Ryan Alejandre, April Dayap, Marissa Salvador, Tomas Monteverde IV, and Jimmy Dureza; from third district are Karlo Bello, Bernard Al-ag, Myrna Dalodo Ortiz, Rachel Zozobrado, Victorio Advincula Jr., and Rene Elias Lopez.

The council has few items to tackle today – seven items under first reading, nine items under the unfinished business, and two items for the second reading. ANC