Protest vs Muntinlupa councilors dismissed

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed the electoral complaint against councilors of Muntinlupa City for lack of operating expenses.

Commissioner Rufino Javier, presiding officer of Comelec’s first division, said a ruling issued last May 31 stated that all 12 councilors in the city’s two districts will keep their seats due to failure of complainants to pay cash deposits required by the electoral body to pursue the case.

"The requirement of cash deposits in protest cases is not merely a technicality that can be waived, but an essential requirement of revision proceedings, indeed, the lifeline of the protests," the decision read.

The division had earlier ordered both the councilors and the complainants to each pay immediately the amount of P408, 990 to be used in revising and recount of results in all 1,124 precincts at question.

Losing candidates, mostly from opposition parties, sought a recount of votes, alleging that there was cheating in the counting of votes.

Proclaimed winners for seats in the city council were: Raul Corro, Allan Camilon, Ma. Luisa Echavez, Melchor Tevez, Icasiano Dela Rea, and Allen Ampaya for the First District; Elemer Espeleta, Francis Ian Bagatsing, Marissa Cole-Rongavilla, Lucio Constantino, Mamerto Sevilla, and Mario Bulay Jr. for the second district.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi welcomed the Comelec ruling saying it has "affirmed the mandate of our councilors given to them by the people of Muntinlupa."– Edu Punay