Despite old one still pending: Reluya files new protest vs. Canoy

CEBU, Philippines - San Fernando mayoralty candidate Lakambini Reluya has filed an election protest against re-elected Mayor Antonio Canoy in relation to the recently held May 13 elections. Another protest filed after the 2010 elections is still pending before the court.

In the 2010 elections, Reluya filed an election protest against Canoy for alleged anomalies and irregularities in the casting, counting and canvassing of votes.

The said election protest is still pending for resolution by Judge Ramon Daomilas of Regional Trial Court Branch 11.

In the present case, Reluya and her husband, Ricardo, defeated vice-mayoralty candidate, filed an election protest against the Canoys for the same grounds in 2010 before the court.

However, this time they contested 50 clustered precincts compared to the 2010 elections with just 10 precincts.

The two filed their separate complaints.

After the casting of votes last May 13 elections, the San Fernando Municipal Board of Canvassers declared Antonio and his son Miko as winners for the mayoralty and vice mayoralty post.

Based on the tally, Antonio got 16,167 votes with a margin of 177 over Reluya who got 16,010 votes while Miko got 16,333 votes over Ricardo who only got 15,468 votes.

In their separate complaints, the couple said the presence of goons in Barangay Panadtaran where clustered precincts 27, 28 and 29 were located allegedly caused so much tension at the voting area in the May 13 elections.

Although data from three clustered precincts were not yet transmitted to the Comelec server, the couple alleged the municipal Board of Canvassers hastily proclaimed the Canoys as the elected officials.

In clustered precinct 42, Ricardo said about 556 valid ballots were counted but when the total votes from both candidates were tallied it showed 507 only. He added there were 49 votes were unaccounted for. —/BRP (FREEMAN)