Vote recount in Sambag election protest begins

CEBU, Philippines - The Committee on Revision of the Municipal Trial Courts in Cities yesterday started the physical recount of the protested ballots in the election protest against Sambag 1 barangay chief Lemar Alcover.

The physical recount turned out 113 votes for Maria Ailien Guardo, who contested the election result of last year's barangay polls.

However, the result will be forwarded to MTCC Branch 2 being handled by Judge Edwin Diez where it will be evaluated further.

Guardo, an ally of  Team Rama, earlier filed the election protest before the MTCC against Alcover citing anomalies during the 2013 Barangay Elections. The two ran for the position of barangay captain of Sambag 1, Cebu City.

 Aside from Alcover and Guardo; Edward Bersabal, Gerry Ebarola and Daniel Lariba Jr. also ran for the same position.

Based on the official tally, Alcover garnered 3,230 votes while Guardo got 3,031 votes, or a margin of 199 votes; Lariba got 347 votes, Bersabal got 25 votes and Ebarola got 20 votes.

Sambag 1 has 9,318 registered voters and 24 clustered precincts.

 Guardo, in her complaint, alleged that Alcover failed to comply with the residency requirement of a candidate set under the law.

"The votes counted in favor of the protestee (Alcover) should be considered as stray votes for the reason that protestee did not comply with the residency requirement for a candidate as he filed a certificate of a candidacy for the position of municipal mayor of  Tabogon, Cebu Province for the 13 May 2013 national and local election," the complaint read.

Guardo said that in order for Alcover to become a candidate for barangay captain of Sambag 1, he should have resided for at least one year in the barangay.

Apart from the residency issue, Guardo also mentioned harassment, threats, intimidation and vote-buying employed by supporters, followers, coordinators and leaders of Alcover.

"Buying of votes and other forms of vote-buying were resorted to by the protestee in order to pressure voters to vote for him or not to cast their votes for the protestant (Guardo)," the complaint read.

Guardo further said that it was not the registered voters themselves who shaded the official and valid ballots but the "cohorts, coordinators, leaders and supporters of the protestee, in connivance with the aid of members of the Board of Election Tellers."

 Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he will reserve his comments until the official result of the physical recount will be released, but he said he is glad the matter is being addressed.

"I am happy that it's being mitigated because if there is a conflict, mitigation is the answer.  Court intervention has to be resorted to," Rama said.

Rama said they will not yet celebrate until finality will come.

"We've been celebrating Señor Sto. Niño, our landslide victory during the Association of Barangay Council and the Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines, we will continue to be celebrating but kining puntoha there will come a time for finality," Rama said.— /BRP (FREEMAN)