HRET junks unseated Malabon-Navotas lawmaker's appeal

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) found no compelling evidence to reverse its previous ruling that unseated Malabon-Navotas Rep. Alvin Sandoval, paving the way his closest rival to assume his post.

The nine-member body upheld its Sept. 24 decision declaring Josephine Veronica “Jaye” Lacson as the winner of the May 2007 congressional polls, after a recount showed that she obtained the highest number of votes.

In a 65-page ruling, HRET held that Sandoval lost to Lacson by a margin of 542 votes.

HRET said Lacson, a candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, got a total of 70,655 votes compared to the 70,113 votes received by Sandoval, then Lakas-CMD congressional candidate, during the recount of ballots.

Lacson cited in her petition the alleged massive cheating that occurred in 623 of the 1,436 precincts in Malabon and Navotas, where the original votes during the proclamation were 71,490 for Sandoval and 70,331 for her, or a difference of 1,159 votes.

“Lacson claimed that she would have obtained a greater number of votes if not for the fraud and irregularities that marred the election,” the HRET ruled.

Sandoval is an ally of President Arroyo and brother of former congressman Ricky Sandoval, who lost the mayoralty election in May 2007 to incumbent Mayor Toby Tiangco.