In Guimaras defeated guv’s supporters held protest rally

CEBU, Philippines - Around 5,000 supporters of defeated incumbent Gov. Felipe Hilan Nava of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) staged a rally yesterday at the Guimaras Capitol grounds to protest the poll results.

When asked, the supporters said that Nava was “cheated” but they could not pinpoint to a specific act. They also marched to ask the Comelec for a manual recount.

Nava got 36,068 votes to lose his re-election bid to Liberal Party’s Samuel Guimarin, incumbent mayor of Buenavista town, who garnered 40,859 votes. Guimarin was earlier proclaimed by the Provincial Board of Canvassers.

Nava, meanwhile, said he was not certain if cheating occurred during the May 13 polls. “I was surprised when I heard that they (supporters) gathered,” he said adding that he has no evidence himself to prove the cheating.

Nava said he has accepted the results and has even planned on taking a hiatus from politics, but the recent act of his supporters made him blink, noting that he would consult his lawyer if there was basis to make any electoral protest.

While the governor was defeated, his brother, incumbent Rep. Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava of the LP, won by landslide with 70,674 votes against independent candidates Tomas Junco Jr.  who had 2,005 votes and Edwin Lim who got 442 votes only.

The Nava brothers broke into different political alliances after they had a falling out a few years back due to political and personal differences.  (FREEMAN)