Remains of Tuburan poll assistant shipped to Leyte

The remains of the Tuburan election assistant who died after he fell from the third floor of a mall last Tuesday were brought back to his hometown in Palompon, Leyte.

According to Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Castillano, the body of Tuburan Election Assistant Rodrigo Delos Santos Maglasang was accompanied by his brother when shipped from Cebu City to Leyte last night.

Some members of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have extended aid to the bereaved family using their personal money.

“Personal lang sa namo. I still have to make a report,” Castillano said.

As of yesterday, the office was collecting some documents in relation to the incident involving Maglasang, 45.

Castillano will submit the documents to the Comelec regional office and then to the head office in Manila.

After all the necessary documents are submitted, the head office will decide whether the family is entitled to an aid from Comelec.

The Comelec is closely coordinating with the family while the mall management had pledged to shoulder the hospital bills.

Castillano said the family believes that Maglasang was depressed because of his ailments. He has diabetes and lung problem.

Meanwhile, the incumbent Election Officer (EO) of Tuburan town retires today. EO Gilbert Pepito is vacating his office at the age of 65.

Cherry Mae Armecin, a computer technician of Comelec, will temporarily assume the post as the acting EO of Tuburan town.

Castillano clarified that even if Maglasang were alive, he will still not qualify to be the EO.

Armecin will continue to serve while the Comelec provincial office awaits the confirmation of the appointment of Ronda Comelec EO Regil Poloyapoy as the new Tuburan EO.

With the changes following the retirement of the EO and the death of his election assistant, Castillano assured that the public has nothing to worry about for the office has done the needed measures to ensure that Comelec continues to effectively function.

In fact, the clustering of precincts in Tuburan town for the next elections was already finished.