• Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business and Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science, Health, and Welfare
      • covid-19 advisory and updates
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
    • Sports (Home)
    • Sports (Special Feature)
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us
HERALD EXPRESS | News in Cordillera and Northern Luzon
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business and Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science, Health, and Welfare
      • covid-19 advisory and updates
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
    • Sports (Home)
    • Sports (Special Feature)
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business and Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science, Health, and Welfare
      • covid-19 advisory and updates
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
    • Sports (Home)
    • Sports (Special Feature)
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
HERALD EXPRESS | News in Cordillera and Northern Luzon
No Result
View All Result
Home City

Ex-solon, 2 others rebut election charges

Dexter A. See by Dexter A. See
April 22, 2015
in City
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0 0
0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

BAGUIO CITY  – Former Rep. Bernardo M. Vergara, City Treasurer Alicia L. Onoza and publicist Ferdie Balang belied allegations of a certain Worthy Acosta, a self-styled aide of former Tarlac Gov. Margarita Tingting Cojuangco, of their alleged involvement in the stealing and tampering of the election ballots of a precinct in the Summer Capital after the May 13, 2013 mid-term elections, saying that such charges are baseless, unfair and unworthy of facts.

In his sworn counter-affidavit recently submitted to the law department of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Vergara pointed out the truth of the matter is that no arrangements were ever made by Tingting Cojuangco and former Biliran Cong. Glenn Chong with Vergara for any ballot retrieval or ballot-stealing plan.

Vergara recalled receiving a phone call on August 2, 2013 from Cojuangco on a proposal to hold an Educational Forum in Baguio on Election Irregularities and for herein respondent to assist a certain Worthy Acosta, asserting that putting up an Educational forum is a millennium away and vastly different from stealing ballots.

RelatedPosts

DILG urges Cordi LGUs to monitor prices of goods, commodities

City commends youngest law graduate, youngest practicing lawyer

Compliance of drinking water refillers ordered

Vergara thereafter called up Balanag, his hired press relations officer then, and instructed him to contact Acosta and assist him in organizing the said forum.

In his complaint affidavit, Acosta said, “sometime before June 30, 2013, I was instructed to go to Baguio.” Acosta then stated, “about a day or two after” he travelled to Baguio where he allegedly met Vergara and that “the following day” he went to the warehouse where the ballots were kept and that he then opened the ballot boxes and stole the ballots with Balanag. All in all, Acosta said that he stayed in Baguio for “three or four days.”  For his part, Balanag, in his own counter-affidavit, argued even assuming that he got the instruction to go to Baguio on June 30, 2013 and he did travel a day or two later on July 2, 2013 and that he stayed in Baguio for four days or until July 6, 2013 – it would have been impossible for him to have accompanied Acosta in stealing the ballots since he was out of the country from June 17, 2013 to July 7, 2013.

Balanag included in his counter affidavit a copy of his passport and travel documents attesting to the fact that he was out of the country during the time of the commission of the alleged crime.  The Bureau of Immigration stamp on Balanag’s passport showed that he left the country on June 17, 2013 and that he came back on July 7, 2013. Balanag travelled to the United States of America with his 80 year old father and returned to Manila on July 7, 2013. He rested in Manila for a day and retuned to Baguio on July 8, 2014.

“Obviously, it was impossible for me to have accompanied Worthy Acosta in allegedly stealing election ballots in Baguio,” he stressed.

The flight and booking records of Balanag attached to his counter affidavit showed the fact that he indeed left the country for San Diego on June 17, 2013 aboard Japan Airlines and that he left   San Diego California for Manila on July 6, 2013 using the same Airline. It was therefore ridiculous for respondent Balanag to have participated in the ballot stealing story of Acosta.

Balanag’s affidavit stated that he only got to know of Acosta on   August 2, 2013, 2013 when Vergara asked him to get in touch with him to arrange the forum being requested by Cojuangco.

Acosta narrated in his sworn affidavit “While in Baguio City, we met with Vergara at a coffee shop along Session Road. He was accompanied by a man he introduced as Ferdie Balanag his Press Relations Officer … the three of us discussed, Vergara laid down the details of the retrieval plan…”

Bernardo M. Vergara had honorably served the people of Baguio for five terms as Congressman and one term as Mayor untainted by any charges of wrongdoing. At the height of the Napoles Scandal, Vergara is one of a very few upright congressmen who did not abuse and misuse their PDAF allocation. In fact, Vergara never had any dealing with the infamous Janet Napoles.  In more than 50 years of honest and dedicated public service, starting as a humble District Engineer, Vergara had never committed any crime, offense, and or felony.  All these years, Vergara had zealously guarded the sterling reputation of his name.

Vergara stated that he is totally innocent of the charges of participating in any crime to steal ballots in Baguio.

“Respondent has been very careful to protect the honor of his name and now at the twilight of his career, he will make sure that his name remains untainted,’ Vergara stressed.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to City Treasurer Onoza, she had complied with her mandate to safeguard the ballots before and after the May 13, 2013 mid-term elections, especially during the 3-month period provided under the provisions of the Omnibus Election code, by ensuring that a security guard watches over the warehouse during the entire 24 hours everyday.

As narrated by the security guard, Onoza disclosed the ballot boxes were not in a complete disarray when city election officer John Paul Martin visited the warehouse sometime in February.

She claimed the incident where a ballot box fell and landed on top of ballot box for clustered precinct No. 32 happened earlier and that the same are occurrences beyond her control.

“It must be remembered that the underlying reason of the abovementioned provision is to secure a fair and honest elections and to safeguard the people’s sacred right of suffrage. The preservation of the ballots is of a paramount importance in the voting process of the elections because if the ballots were lost during the election day, the people will be dis-enfranchised,” Onoza underscore.

By Dexter A. See

ShareTweetSend
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

La Union coastal village sinking

Next Post

15 illegal structures demolished

Dexter A. See

Dexter A. See

Herald Express is a news organization based in Baguio City that has a weekly publication and an online news portal. The newspaper is circulated in the different provinces of Northern Luzon. The name of the fastest-growing publication in town is coined from the word ‘quick messenger’ which is self-explanatory. Our motto ‘we deliver the balanced news that matters to you’ was conceptualized to make it clear to our readers what to expect from our new writers and columnists.

Related Posts

Baguio makes it to 2016 Seal of Good Local Governance

DILG urges Cordi LGUs to monitor prices of goods, commodities

by ---
January 31, 2023
0

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government here is urging Cordillera local government units (LGUs) to monitor...

Session Road history, heritage festival to be institutionalized

City commends youngest law graduate, youngest practicing lawyer

by Dexter A. See
January 30, 2023
0

City officials gave due recognition and the highest commendation to a most deserving and gifted Cordilleran, Jozef Maynard Borja Erece...

Restaurants told to provide free access to potable water

Compliance of drinking water refillers ordered

by Dexter A. See
January 29, 2023
0

City officials urged the Local Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee, through the City Health Officer and the president of the...

Next Post

15 illegal structures demolished

Murder charges filed vs. killer of 14-year old student

Mall rolls out more environment projects

ADVERTISEMENT

Recent News

No more large-scale mining in Benguet pushed

Mayor saddened on unfiled ban on pocket mining

January 31, 2023
LT staged strawberry fest’s cake contest

24 major events lined up for LT’s Strawberry Festival

January 31, 2023
DA-CAR readies Php4.4M-worth Rehab Plan for flash flood-affected Banaue farmers

DA acknowledges defined role of women-owned and led agribusinesses

January 31, 2023
24 MP farmers interviewed by Japanese employers

OfCAS conducts information caravan on banner programs, services

January 31, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
HERALD EXPRESS | News in Cordillera and Northern Luzon

Herald Express is a news organization based in Baguio City that has a weekly publication and an online news portal. The newspaper is circulated in the different provinces of Northern Luzon. The name of the fastest-growing publication in town is coined from the word ‘quick messenger’ which is self-explanatory.

Follow Us

Search

No Result
View All Result
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
  • Sectoral news
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Other sections
  • Ads & Notices
  • About Us

© 2022 Baguio Herald Express - Website Design by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business and Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science, Health, and Welfare
      • covid-19 advisory and updates
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
    • Sports (Home)
    • Sports (Special Feature)
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us

© 2022 Baguio Herald Express - Website Design by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist