Comelec appoints new Laoag City election officer

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Laoag City—This city has new election officer.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) appointed Atty. Julius Harvey Balbas as Laoag’s new elections officer. He assumed office on February 1, 2016.

Mr. Balbas, upon assuming the office, said he applied for the post not only for the forthcoming elections. He stressed that he will serve until the Comelec orders him to a new assignment.

Prior to this designation, Mr. Balbas served as tax and corporate law practitioner in Manila.

He said is he confident that election in Laoag will be smooth, peaceful and orderly. This is because the incumbent mayor and vice mayor are running unopposed while there are only 18 candidates vying for the council.

He said that with the help of the Laoag police the local Education office and the local tri-media, the elections in the city will be smooth.

As for the May elections, Mr. Balbas said his office is ready. He disclosed that a seminar for elections officers in the country was held in Manila on February 8-11. The seminar is in preparation for the national general elections.

A training for election personnel in Ilocos Norte is also scheduled in March.

He said he has coordinated with the City Schools Division. This is in line with teachers who will serve in the elections. He said Dr. Cecilia P. Aribuabo, head of the division, mentioned that the teachers are ready.

Mr. Balbas also has coordinated with the police to assist them before, during and after the elections.

Meanwhile, two precincts will be available for the Laoag City Jail. Mr. Balbas said this would give the detainees the opportunity to vote. With the additional precincts, Laoag will have a total of 130 precincts.

As for the total registered voters, Laoag has 73,351 voters who registered their biometrics. At least 7,000, however, have been disenfranchised for their failure to register their biometrics.