Macalintal hits Comelec over 'irregular' ruling

MANILA, Philippines - An election lawyer had lambasted the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for an allegedly irregular decision, overturning the victory of his client, Camarines Norte Gov. Jesus Typoco.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal said that Comelec chairman Jose Melo and Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer, Lucenito Tagle, Leonardo Leonida and Armando Velasco must resign because the faulty decision was based on alleged “fake election documents.”

Macalintal claimed that Typoco has won by 2,543 votes over rival Edgardo Tallado in the 2007 polls. 

The latter had questioned Typoco’s victory before the Comelec and earlier, these poll officials have ruled that it was Tallado who won the gubernatorial race by 65 votes.

But according to Macalintal, the Comelec had ruled against his client on the basis of falsified election documents.

“I challenge them to revisit the Comelec’s Records and Statistics Division to see the fake documents. If I’m wrong, then I’m willing to surrender my license as a lawyer,” he added.

Melo, however, said that he was not part of the decision because he inhibited himself from the case after receiving a visit from Macalintal and others involved in the case.

He maintained that Macalintal had been given the chance to prove his case but the commissioners have given weight to his client’s opponent instead.

The poll chief added that as petitioned by Macalintal, the Comelec had conducted a hearing to review the decision but the commissioners have still upheld the earlier ruling.