Court Inspects San Fernando ballots

CEBU, Philippines - It’s a long process involved in resolving an election protest, but at least it is one step done for the case in San Fernando, southern Cebu.

The two-day inspection of the 49 ballot boxes from the southern town was completed yesterday at the sala of Judge Ramon B. Daomilas, Jr. of Regional Trial Court Branch 11.

Out of 49 boxes, two boxes had broken padlocks.

After the inspection, the court will proceed with the authentication of the ballots although there is no specific date yet for this. Judge Daomilas said that the PCOS machine is needed to authenticate the ballots.

“I will write a request letter to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the PCOS machine,” Daomilas said. “But if the Comelec will not grant the request, I will refer it to the Supreme Court on what to use in the authentication of ballots,” added the judge.

He added that he does not know how the Comelec will act, considering that the PCOS machines are in the custody of Smartmatic

Mayor Lakambini Reluya’s camp stressed that they will pursue the recount for San Fernando. Reluya filed an election protest after she was defeated by mayor-elect Antonio Canoy with over 1, 000 votes during the May 10 automated elections.

Reluya’s camp had alleged they saw irregularities in six precincts and they want this clarified. — THE FREEMAN