SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 Apr) – A total of 451 voters in a town in Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte will be removed from the voters’ list, a local court ruled.
A decision rendered by the 11th Municipal Trial Court in Sta. Monica last April 19 said that these voters are not residents of the said town.
Based on the petition for exclusion filed by Racquel Dulguime last February 6, she alleged that 511 of the registrants are “flying voters.”
The court, however, found that 60 of those named are bona fide residents of Sta. Monica and thus they cannot be removed from the voters’ list.
The copy of the decision, penned by Judge Robert B. Gonzaga, presiding judge of the said court, was obtained by MindaNews last Monday.
Petitioner alleged that the flying voters mostly from Siargao Island were being hired and paid by a mayoral candidate in Sta. Monica.
Incumbent Mayor Andres Dolar will square off against Vice Mayor Renato Virtudazo for the town’s top post.
Atty. April Joy Balano, provincial election supervisor, said several towns have similar pending cases.
