Mayoralty Bet Fears Massive Vote-Buying this Election

San Fernando town mayoralty Lakambini Reluya expressed fears of massive vote-buying in their area this coming election, reportedly to be perpetuated by her opponent.

Reluya, who is running under Alayon Party, said it happened last 2010 elections, she believed it would also happen this time. Reluya, who ran in 2010 for her supposed second term, was defeated by Antonio Canoy by 1,255 votes. The lady mayor filed a protest before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) alleging that Canoy switched the ballot boxes during the transfer to the canvassing area.

The said protest has not yet been resolved with finality however. Days before the 2010 elections, too, Reluya alleged that the Canoys, vice mayoralty bet Mico was his father’s running mate at that time, paid and intimidated the voters to vote for them. Last election the COMELEC had placed San Fernando on its watch-list due to the conflict of the two parties. This year the town is on the list again as the two rival parties are up again to battle against the two top posts, with the incumbent Mayor Canoy and his son running against the tandem of Reluya and her husband, Ricardo.

For his part, Mico Canoy denied Reluya’s allegation, saying the troubles in their town only started when the Reluyas came. He said for a long time his family had led San Fernando, and that there was no report of vote-buying or any incident which could compromise the town’s peace.