Comelec urged to dismiss petition

CEBU, Philippines - A councilwoman of Barangay Bacayan, whose proclamation in the last barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections is sought to be nullified because of alleged errors committed by the members of the Board of Election Tellers, has asked the Commission on Elections to dismiss the petition on the ground that it was filed in a wrong venue.

Councilwoman Mildred Branzuela, through her counsel Ervin Estandarte, moved for the dismissal of the petition for the correction of manifest errors, the annulment of erroneous proclamation and proclamation of winning candidates filed by the board of canvassers and the election tellers.Branzuela said the petition was filed before the office of the election officer in Cebu City instead of the Comelec office in Manila which was provided for under the rules.

The rules also provide that the board of canvassers and election tellers shall review, recompute and verify the results before any proclamation is made.

According to Branzuela, the teachers’ claims that they erred in putting the entries in the election return is impossible because they are mandated under the rules to review and recompute the results before going into the proclamation of winners.

It can be recalled that the teachers who served as BET of precincts 92-A and 92-B in Barangay Bacayanadmitted during the hearing held at the Comelec Cebu City that they erred in putting entries in the election return for the candidates for barangay councilmen depriving the rightful winner of the position now occupied by Branzuela.

The teachers claimed that it was an honest mistake on their part and regretted that Emelia Borgonia was deprived of her victory. Borgonia ranked 9th in the last elections instead of the 7th spot that would have earned her the victory.

Because of the erroneous entry Borgonia’s 126 votes in precinct 92-A and 92-B went to Branzuela. The petitionis deemed submitted for resolution after both parties shall have submitted their respective memoranda. (FREEMAN)