Bernabe son takes poll protest to court

MANILA, Philippines - A son of Parañaque City Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. has filed an election protest against one of former mayor Joey Marquez’s sons, who recently won the chairmanship of the country’s largest barangay, BF Homes.

Jeremy Marquez, however, sent a text message to The STAR belittling Carlo Bernabe’s complaint and claimed his lead even increased during the recount. Marquez won over Bernabe in the Oct. 25 polls by over 2,000 votes.

In a complaint dated Nov. 5, Bernabe asked Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 78 sought to annul the proclamation of Marquez and asked for a “revision and recount” of votes from the barangay’s 129 clustered precincts.

Bernabe also alleged that special treatment “in terms of giving assistance” was given to known Marquez supporters, while many of his supporters could not find their names in the voters’ lists.

Bernabe also alleged that some “ballots with blank spaces in the line for punong barangay (barangay chief) were… read and counted in favor of” Marquez.

Court employee Paul Santos told The STAR that the recounting has been completed and a court hearing under Judge Ramsey Domingo Pichay might take place next year.