Peaceful turnout of polls belie ‘critical’ tag of Paquibato

Paquibato, Davao City – Voting in Paquibato’s four barangays turned out smoothly, making election personnel and teachers laugh off the police classification of Paquibato barangays as areas of concern.

The only trouble these teachers, who served as board of election tellers (BET), encountered were dead people included in the voters’ list, a drunk entering the voting premises in Salapawan Elementary School and acting as a guide, and residents claimed other voters’ identities in the same school.

Earlier, Davao City Police cited intelligence report identifying six barangays in Paquibato District as ‘areas of concern’ due to the presence of “armed groups” such as the communist guerrilla New People’s Army.

The hinterland district of Paquibato is located 28 kilometers from the city proper, with a population of 28,000.

But the poll turnout in one of these barangays, Mapula, was orderly as farmers voted early and left to go back to their farms. By noon time, the voting centers became quiet.

Yorly Lamunlag, board of election teller (BET) chair in Mapula Elementary School said “almost 70% cast their votes today, and this would have been higher if the dead were removed from the voters list.”

No incidents of violence or presence of armed groups like the New People’s Army, as earlier feared by police and military intelligence, were reported.

The turnout of the polls impressed Police Officer Charliemagne Cabaral, who was assigned in Barangay Mapula.

“I am glad that I am assigned here. People are very welcoming and offered food to us. There are no untoward incidents in this election, but this is not a reason to be complacent,” Cabaral told Davao Today.

In Salapawan Elementary School in Barangay Salapawan, one BET named Lileth said identifying the lumads posed a problem as most of them have no identification cards.

“The voters are lumads and these people have no identification cards to present to verify their identities. But thankfully other community members were participative and helped keep watch as there were some voters who were found out to be claiming other people’s identities,” said Lileth, one of the BET.

She added that there are 120 voters who are illiterate, which they had to assist by writing down their choice candidates. This process slowed down the pace of the voting.

In Paquibato Proper Central Elementary School, more than 60% of the registered voters cast their votes.

First time voters like Rochel Torres, 34, said that the voting process was easy, as assistance was given to them such as searching for their names in voting precincts up to the casting of votes.

Elizabeth Pevida, Deputy in Kiman-ao Elementary School observed Paquibato residents were participative. “Hapsay ang mga tao, siguro aduna silay gusto na change or improvement sa ilang life (the people are organized, maybe they want change or improvement in their lives),” she said.

However, the BETs raised their concern that they had not received travel allowance for their service in this election. (Earl O. Condeza, davaotoday.com)