The disenfranchisement was allegedly maneuvered by a losing congressional candidate who allegedly petitioned the names to be removed from the official voters’ list to bolster his chances of winning.
The candidate had utilized two poll-watchers from two different political parties, Lakas and LP. However, Sen. Rene Cayetano, Lakas-NUCD Vice President for the NCR, in a letter to the Comelec, granted Villar the authority to appoint Lakas poll-watchers in the city, leading to the revocation of the authority of her rival candidate’s appointed watchers.