Court confirms Basamot's win as Kamputhaw chief

CEBU, Philippines - Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Anatalio Necesario confirmed Lorenzo Milanes Basamot, Sr. as winner for the post of barangay captain in barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City.

Necesario affirming the proclamation of Basamot as duly elected Punong Barangay of Kamputhaw by the Barangay Board of Canvassers after the October 25, 2010-barangay elections.

It was candidate Trifonio Bedrijo Lequigan, Jr., who lost to Basamot, who filed the election protest claiming anomalies.

However, Necesario stated that the court will no longer disturb the findings of the Board of Canvassers who proclaimed Basamot as winner.

“The final result after evaluation of the revision report would reveal that Lequigan garnered 3,934 votes and Basamot obtained 4,118 votes including the appreciation of the stray ballots,” the order reads.

Necesario stated that upon examination of the ballots during revision, the court did not notice or find the so called vote shaving or “dagdag-bawas”.

“From the results of the votes on the Tally Board, election returns and revision, the court finds that no vote shaving or “dagdag-bawas” ever happened or committed and other grounds claimed by the parties are not only unsubstantiated but also without any valid and justifiable proof,” the judge added.

Lequigan had claimed that Basamot did “blatant various election anomalies, serious irregularities and fraud and rampant violations of election laws, rules and regulations.”

He likewise alleged that the chairman of the different Board Election Tellers committed 11 acts that could be ground for an election protest because they “deliberately misread” the ballots.

He added that Basamot also stayed within the 50-meter radius from the polling place, a violation of election laws. He also questioned the 34 clustered precincts. —/JPM (FREEMAN)