Election Officer Salud Villanueva has called on the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting to substantiate their claims that hundreds of voters in Silay City, Negros Occidental, were disenfranchised because of what they called "inefficiency" in the system of the Commission on Elections.

Denying the claims of PPCRV, Villanueva said the voters may have overlooked, or had no patience in looking for their names in their polling precincts. She explained that the books of voters, Election Day Computerized Voter's Lists and Precinct Computerized Voter's Lists are one. So, she added, it is impossible that the names of voters cannot be found at EDCVL and PCVL if they are listed in the books of voters".

"The books of voters were also counterchecked with the Precinct Computerized Voter's List by the Board of Election Inspectors during the sealing of books", Villanueva also said .

Silay PPCRV secretariat member Linda Ledesma said names of voters were either missing from precincts they had voted in for years, or appeared in other polling precincts located in the outskirts of the city.

Considering that the voter's lists were only posted on the eve of election day, many voters were at a loss inspite of having the assistance desks, Ledesma said.

Villanueva, however, said the voter's lists had been posted since February at the Comelec office, contrary to claims.

Ledesma noted the very low turn-out of voters and the numerous cases of disenfranchisement in some polling precincts of Brgys. Mambulac and Guinhalaran, Silay City. Villanueva, however, said more than 54,000 of the 69,000 voters in Silay, equivalent to 78 percent, have exercised their rights of suffrage.

Villanueva also described the election in Silay as credible, orderly and peaceful.*GPB .

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