LAGAWE, IFUGAO- – Lagawe mayoralty candidate Denis Habawel has committed to boost the efforts of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) of ensuring the conduct of anomaly-fire polls on May 12, 2025 in the capital town of Lagawe.
Habawel, former Ifugao governor, recently filed a petition to disqualify about 300 registered voters in a number of precincts principally located at vote-rich villages in the town’s Poblacion area.
“I am not standing down when there is a clear threat to our electoral processes. Protecting the people vigorously against their plan to subvert their will at the forthcoming elections is important,” he said.
“Padding the list of voters carelessly endangers the people in their democratic exercise of constitutionality protected right of suffrage,” he added
For quite a long time, rumors of all the elections have been circulating in saying that they have a sigh of relief that an action has been taken. This “flying voters” scheme has also been reported in many other towns and cities across the Philippines through the issuance of “questionable” barangay residence certificates. Various petitions for exclusion of voters have been filed at the Branch 4 of the Municipal Trial Court in Lagawe.
According to correct records, Habawel, also a lawyer filed the petition “in good faith, not indiscriminately and not to harass any candidate or person cited as respondent in the petitions for exclusion”.
“We stand at the forefront of restoring the people’s trust and confidence for the conduct of fraud-free elections, driven by my civic duty and role as a registered voter and the official candidate of the Nacionalista Party for Mayor of Lagawe in the May 12, 2025 elections. I’m compelled to take this action to protect the integrity of the election process,” he quipped.
In question are “inconceivable” number of new voters in the villages of Poblacion East, Poblacion West, Poblacion North, Cudog and Boliwong “Among others, this is where illegal registration of voters occurred,” he claimed.
“The numbers of new voters in these villages are quite large,” he motioned. Habawel cited that said barangay recorded 467, 293, 236, 182 and 119 new registrants respectively.
If Habawel did not take the alleged padding of voters roll lightly, he also brought the attention of the Comelec and the public instances of “strange developments” in Tungngod and Burnay villages. “In Tungngod, there were only 2 delisted, but there are 76 new voters in only 1 precinct. In Burnay, 46 new voters were added in a precinct that had no deletion, though these are 68 new voters in 2 of the 6 precints,” he disclosed.
Granted, understanding why population growth trends is inevitable, it doesn’t however, makes sense to see “alarming” increase of voter registrants in this part of the capital town of Lagawe. That’s why close scrutiny of this may need considerable help from Comelec chair Erwin Garcia.
For one, it was rightly pointed out that “an annual growth rate of -50% for Lagawe and .41%, -2.71% and -1.31% for Poblacion East, Poblacion North and Poblacion West, respectfully, could not support a 32% and 25% increase in new voter registrants in these barangays in just 8 months.”
So far, the judiciary has not ruled on the merits of Atty. Habawel’s petition. It is clear that this dramatic development is worse than many thought.
Nevertheless, the petition is not wavering on his stand. “We’re ramping up our support to the national government’s efforts to ensure the conduct of clean elections,” he declared.
Habawel expressed confidence that the court would ultimately decide in his favor.
Many aspects of his petition show a strong commitment for good governance.
Educating Lagawe folks, most especially the young, on the vitality of discarding sinister practices as vote-buying, use of black propaganda and engaging the services of flying voters during elections, is among the priority measure of Habawel should he win in the coming elections. Lagawe folks are blessed, indeed, with the dedication to duty of Atty. Habawel. And now, his deep involvement to ensure of doing what is right before and on May 12, 2025.
“Manipulating the voters list on such a massive scale was a repulsive move and thus, it is surely an act inimical to the Filipino people,” he stressed.
Imbued with excellent leadership traits, integrity and passion, Atty. Habawel’s track record truly offers timeless lessons to all. For years, he has helped in keeping local government vibrant and undoubtedly consistent with public welfare, and is now invigorating efforts for honest polls by advancing this petition. It’s yet another milestone in his illustrious career.
The children of Lagawe’s children and their great, grand grandchildren will definitely reap the gains of clean election. The town’s 13,024 registered voters and all others then are not likely to be clueless enough on this controversy and more interested in fulfilling a common vision of a better future. **By Anthony A. Araos
