PIA Press Release Friday, January 20, 2012 COMELEC: Special elections in Zambales going smoothIBA, Zambales Jan. 20 (PIA) -- Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in the province said that the special election here is going smoothly as planned.This, as the five expected candidates have already filed their respective certificates of candidacy at the end of filing yesterday. Following the death of 2nd District Representative Antonio M. Diaz in August last year, the post was declared vacant. Officially vying for the seat are Liberal Party candidate Attorney Cheryl Deloso-Montalla, Alfred Mendoza (Independent), Rica Victoria Diaz (Independent), Board Member Wilfredo Paul “Jun” Pangan (Independent) and Provincial Administrator Jun Omar Ebdane (Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka). Zambales COMELEC Provincial Election Supervisor Attorney Elaiza Sabile-David said that so far, no election-related violence has ever been recorded. The COMELEC officer is calling on all the candidates and their supporters to strictly follow election rules including the regulations pertaining to campaigning. This is in reaction to queries regarding the proliferation of posters of several candidates even before the respective candidates filed their certificates of candidacy. She said that once the candidate files his or her candidacy, the candidate will then be bound by the rules of COMELEC. “All eyes are in this special election, as this is the only election in the country that is happening this year,” David said. The election officer said that all government arms, including the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are all coordinating with each other to help them in ensuring the conduct of a peaceful, honest and orderly election in the second district of the province. |