Malonzo asks Asistios to concede loss

Re-electionist Caloocan City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo yesterday dared his political rival, Rep. Luis "Baby Asistio", and his elder brother, Macario "Boy", to concede defeat even as the City Board of Canvassers has yet to reach halfway in its canvassing of votes.

Baby Asistio, a known supporter of jailed former President Joseph Estrada, ran against Malonzo for city mayor, while Boy eyed the congressional seat in the city’s second district against the incumbent mayor’s partymate, Councilor Edgar Erice.

According to Malonzo, his unofficial tally based on the fourth copy of the election returns showed him leading Asistio by more than 30,000 votes.

As of yesterday noon, Malonzo’s quick count showed him receiving 160,533 votes and Asistio, 130,430 votes.

Malonzo also scored the snail-paced canvassing by the Comelec, further compounded by Asistio’s lawyers.

"They are employing delaying tactics by raising every imaginable objection before the board," Malonzo said.

According to Elizabeth Manalo, public schools district supervisor and a member of the board of canvassers, the Comelec has canvassed only 10 percent of the total election returns.

Based on the Comelec’s partial, official tally as of Sunday night, Asistio had 11,743 votes and Malonzo, 10,556. – Nikko Dizon