Barangay chief bet, supporters block Comelec vehicle

MANILA, Philippines — Tension gripped a polling center in Quezon City before dawn yesterday after a candidate for barangay captain and his supporters attempted to block the delivery of ballot boxes.

The incident at the Pinyahan Elementary School in Barangay Pinyahan occurred when Jesus Lipnica Jr. and his followers allegedly blocked a service vehicle of the Commission of Elections (Comelec) as it was leaving the campus.

Police investigators said Lipnica, a former barangay chairman who is gunning for the same post in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, arrived at the school at around 2:40 a.m. and
prevented the vehicle from going to city hall.

Lipnica, according to probers, ordered his supporters to block the vehicle. Policemen from the Kamuning police station intervened and restored order.

The ballot boxes were transported to city hall.