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IN CONTRAST to the camp of Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura and his mother, Vice Mayor Maria Luisa Loot, supporters of Augusto Corro and Jose de Leon are making sure they would not create a fuss.
Bateria barangay captain Arsenio Luciano said he and other persons identified with Corro have been keeping away from the municipal hall, which has been barricaded by Loot and Shimura’s supporters.
Corro’s camp has also been making sure not to gather in large groups as it may be misunderstood by Loot and Shimura’s camp.
Ever since the municipal hall was barricaded, Corro’s camp had to ask people who are not identified with the group to transact with the government on their behalf, Luciano said.
All this was to prevent misunderstandings, raise tensions or create unpleasant confrontations between the two groups, Luciano said.
He denied that Corro’s camp had been preparing any sort of forced takeover of the municipal hall, as may have been implied by the barricades.
“They (Loot and Shimura’s supporters) are the ones who raised the barricades. On Corro’s side, we’re not taking any action because we don’t want any trouble. We stand for peace. We just follow the law,” Luciano said.
Bakhawan barangay captain Bernardito Luche Jr., another Corro supporter, said he and his companions would only make legal moves once there is an order for Corro to assume office as mayor.
“We’ll do this the legal way,” Luche said.
Corro, for his part, said he has made it a point to stay away from Daanbantayan to prevent his supporters from coming to his house to show support.
He said this may cause large numbers of his supporters to gather and create tension.
“They (Loot and Shimura’s camp) may make it an excuse to create trouble in the town,” Corro said.
He urged his supporters to stay calm and to take no radical action.
“Let’s wait for the legal process,” Corro said.
Over the past few weeks, supporters of Loot and Shimura have been conducting activities to show support for their leaders.
The municipal hall was barricaded on Sept. 1. Supporters of the mayor and vice mayor have been keeping vigil outside the building ever since.
Some supporters have also been holding rallies in support of Loot and Shimura.
Tapilon barangay captain Paquito Diano siad he joined the rally because Loot and Shimura were clear winners of the May 2007 elections.
He said he could not believe the decision of Regional Trial Court Judge Antonio Marigomen to nullify Shimura and Loot’s win in favor of Corro and De Leon.
In barangay Tapilon, Shimura won over Corro by 12 votes in the mayoral race, while while Loot won by over 300 votes against De Leon for vice mayor.
After Marigomen invalidated a number of questionable ballots, Corro won over Shimura by over 300 votes while De Leon won over Loot by over 500 votes, Diano said.
“We’re looking for our votes. This did not just happen in Tapilon, but in other barangays as well,” Diano said.
PO3 Mamerto Gastador of the Daanbantayan police station said the town has remained peaceful so far.
However, Gastador said police could not be certain if the peace would continue once the court orders an enforcement of its decision to let Corro and De Leon assume office.
As of now, however, there was no sign that clashes would occur, he said.
“The only intense thing here is the talk,” Gastador said.
