Cebu City election officer to inhibit from being canvass chair amidst threat

Marchel Sarno. | CDN File

CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Cebu City Commission on Elections (Comelec) South District election officer will be inhibiting from his role as chairman in the canvassing of the votes following threats to his life.

Lawyer Marchel Sarno told CDN Digital that he received text messages saying, “Usa ra ka ka bala,” and, “Tago nalang,” around 1:30 p.m. of Sunday, May 12, 2019. 

He immediately reported the messages to the police. 

Sarno said that this is not the first election that he received threats but it is the first time that the threats insinuated an alleged partiality.

For this reason, he said he chose to inhibit from being the chairman of the canvassing board. 

North District election officer, Lawyer Chaunsey Boholst will take his place.

“I asked the regional director for an inhibition to protect the integrity of the elections,” said Sarno in a phone interview.

Sarno said that with the insinuation of partiality, there may be a question to the integrity of the results proclaimed if he remains to be the chair.

However, he assured that he remains impartial and neutral to any political party.

For his part, Boholst said he is ready to chair the city’s canvassing.

He said he is grateful that he did not receive similar threats and he hopes for the safety of Sarno and all election officers in the province of Cebu. /bmjo