The fight for barangay captain of Doljo in Panglao town has all the trimmings of a full-blown legal battle as ready-made votes were found in one precinct and was feared to be a widespread political “phenomenon.” The perception of the affected candidates was that it could have happened in other Panglao barangays.

What is at stake in a barangay like Doljo?

For the protagonists the stakes are high. A seaside barangay, Doljo is the seat of the high end Bellevue Resort and Spa and more resort investors are eyeing what remains of its pristine beaches. This explains why kingmakers were all agog to put her own protégée to rule the barangay taking into consideration the potentials of the barangay as a source of largesse. Incumbent Mayor Nila Montero backed the candidacy of the incumbent Mercia Denoso in a do-or-die contest against newcomer Elvieh Sarmiento. A third bet reportedly supported by former mayor Doloriech Dumaluan made the three-way race an exciting one what with money flowing from all sides of the political spectrum. As the smoke of battle subsided, Denoso won by the skin of her teeth. Sarmiento was the candidate of former mayor Benedicto Alcala. But Denoso's reelection appeared to be in trouble as at least three Panglao voters executed affidavits citing different irregularities in the last village polls.

One Jimmy Clemen, of legal age and a resident of Purok 7, Lag-itan, Doljo, Panglao, narrated that while inside Precinct Nos. 31A and 31B, he was handed a folded ballot. However, when he opened the folded ballot it was already filled up, meaning the names of the candidates were already indicated in the said ballot. He said the filled up ballot favored the incumbent punong barangay (Denoso) since her name was already indicated therein along with the names of the candidates for barangay kagawad. Clemen further revealed that after leaving the precinct, he informed the representative of punong barangay candidate Elvira Sarmiento , Gil Guimalan, regarding the already filled up ballot that was given to him. In signing the affidavit, Clemen fully attested that he was not the one who filled up the ballot handed to him. In fact, he said, the handwriting in the said ballot was markedly different from “my handwriting”. He added the writing on the ballot was cursive while “I always write in print”.

IN ANOTHER INSTANCE

In another instance, Manuel Clemen and Joseph Doliente, both of legal ages and residents of Purok 7, Doljo, Panglao, indicated that on November 25, 2013, they went to the Doljo Elemntary School to cast their votes for the barangay elections. After voting, they said they stayed behind the premises of the school to observe the on-going elections. That around noontime, the same day, “we observed that all the watchers and other people inside Precinct 31A & 31B were ordered to get out of the room by the Board of Election Tellers since they will have their lunch break”. After all the people got out of the precinct, Clemen and Doliente said, the Board of Election Tellers then closed the door. They added that however, a few minutes after the door was closed, Maria Liberty Cloma, a barangay record keeper and a watcher of the incumbent punong barangay (Denoso), went back inside and brought with her a bag. Then, the door of the said precinct was again closed after Cloma went inside and was opened only when the voting resumed, the two added. The two affiants said they were really surprised not only as to the closing of the door of the said precinct but as to why Cloma was allowed to go back inside after all the watchers of the candidates were ordered to get out by the Board of Election Tellers.