The Diocesan Electoral Board will formally file charges against a political group in Tanjay City, Oriental Negros, for allegedly using the name of the National Movement for Free Elections or NAMFREL as its volunteers' identity in the May 14 polls.

Tanjay City Parish coordinator Dondee Ceñeres reported the anomaly to DEB convenor Rev. Fr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela in Dumaguete City, who will, in turn, refer the problem to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting main office in Manila .

Ceñeres said they were surprised to see a group of young people wearing T-shirts bearing the letters N.A.M.F.R.E.L. which supposed to be the acronym of an independent poll counting body.

The acronym supposedly stood for "Nilo Arnaiz Macias Forging Resources Electing Lawrence" but was believed to be purposely done to mislead the voting public.

Ceñeres identified those suspected of wearing the T-shirts as supporters of Tanjay Vice Mayor Lawrence Teves. He added that during his conversation with Teves' legal counsel, Manolo Zerna, the latter told him they had no hidden motives in using the name NAMFREL.

The name Nilo stands for the name of Teves' runningmate Nilo Tam, while Arnaiz and Macias stood for outgoing Gov. George Arnaiz and Rep. Emilio Macia, who are candidates for Congress and Governor , respectively, and supporting Lawrence Teves in Tanjay.

Ceñeres admitted that the "NAMFREL" volunteers in Tanjay experienced discrimination from city residents during election day.

He added that they have gathered enough evidences to support their complaint against N.A.M.F.R.E.L.

Meanwhile, Heruela clarified that they do not have any intentions of destroying any political party and they are only after clearing the name of NAMFREL.

He said the complaint will be submitted to the PPCRV and the National Action Secretariat Social Action (NASSA) office in Manila.*MA

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