Members of the Public Order and Safety Office assigned to secure the Bays Center in Bacolod City yesterday reported to the police that several unidentified men have been seen conducting surveillance in the area where the ballot boxes are being kept by the Comelec.

Juno Rejemino and Arsenio Apelido reported to Police Precinct 1 that at about 6 p.m. Wednesday, they noticed four to six unidentified men, believed to be supporters of Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, taking turns in observing the activities at the Bay Center. They were also seen in the area at about 12:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. yesterday, they said.

The complainants said that, based on information they gathered, the suspects were monitoring the time that the Bays Center opens and closes. They said the suspects were riding on a Green Suzuki van with plate number FDN-926.

Bacolod City Legal Officer Allan Zamora said he will inform Comelec of the matter. He said one of the suspects was reportedly seen on board a vehicle carrying the poster of mayoralty candidate Luzviminda Valdez.

Zamora also said they also have received information that the political opponents of the Mayor have hired a certain "Rigor" with the code name "Black Jack," who is known to be an expert in switching of ballots or election returns. He said he believes this could be related to the presence of the suspects were conducting surveillance at the Bays Center where all election materials of the Comelec are placed.

Zamora said these persons probably have something to do with the operation "Black Jack" is supposed to perform during the May elections.

Eric Tenerife, media liaison of Puentevella, said Zamora should stop day-dreaming. As a lawyer he should have hard facts, he said.

Tenerife said they do not know anyone named "Black Jack" nor have they hired anyone to perform ballot-switching during the elections. He said what they have is "Pusoy Dos" (a card game) not black jack which means that the members of Grupo Progreso under congressional candidate Renecito Novero and re-electionist Mayor Evelio Leonardia will all lose.

For Zamora to claim that one of the suspects was seen on board a vehicle carrying the poster of Valdez is the highest form of mental bankruptcy, Tenerife said, since no one who has any plans to commit fraud would want to be identified.

He said he is challenging Zamora to prove that they hired somebody to perform ballot switching. If he cannot prove it then this is a cover up of the real intention of the group of the administration to rig the May elections, he said.

Bacolod Comelec election officer Mavil Majarucon said she inquired from Roberto Sayson, one of her personnel assigned to secure the Bays Center during nighttime, about the reported incident. She said Sayson confirmed that he saw a person walking around the area early Thursday morning, but he was not alarmed, knowing that there is a Police Precinct nearby.*CGS

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