Daza denies poll fraud charges in Quezon City

Quezon City Councilor Nanette Castelo-Daza, who is leading the congressional race for the city’s fourth district, dismissed yesterday as "pure canard" the charges of vote buying and other election violations leveled against her losing candidate former Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman.

Daza issued the denial as she appealed to the Lagman camp from doing acts that might provoke outrage among their respective supporters.

The Quezon City board of canvassers had earlier junked Lagman’s call to stop the official canvassing of election returns, saying that the Comelec en banc has not issued any directive to support the appeal.

"I still maintain great esteem towards Congressman Lagman despite the fact that he hurled these unfounded charges a good five days after the May 14 elections and after all poll counts have shown that I am conveniently leading," Daza said in a statement.