CEBU, Philippines - The Special Municipal Board of Canvassers, upon orders of the Comelec en banc, on Wednesday proclaimed Winston Menzon as the duly elected vice mayor of Babatngon town in Leyte.
The proclamation ceremony was done at the Comelec national office at the Palcacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila.
The board consisted of chairperson Abigail Justine Cuaresma Lilagan, vice chair John Rex Laudiangco and director Ester Villaflor Roxas with three support staff as members.
Present during the proclamation were Winston's lawyers Edith Bautista, Rhodora Corcuera Menzon and Anthony Menzon, and his supporter Butch Duquiatan.
The Comelec en banc issued last January 20 a resolution written by then Chairman Sixto Brillantes and concurred by all commissioners, ordering the proclamation of Winston Menzon as the elected vice mayor of Babatngon.
The order came after denying the motion for reconsideration filed by Winston's opponent, Marcelina Engle, whose certificate of candidacy was cancelled and annulled with finality by the Comelec.
The Comelec en banc, through acting Chairman Christian Robert Lim, subsequently issued a writ of execution directing the special board of canvassers to proclaim Winston to the post of vice mayor.
Winston is the son of lawyer Aurelio Menzon, former Leyte vice governor and then commissioner of the National Labor Relations Commission, and Flor Menzon, former regional manager of Pag-IBIG in Eastern Visayas. (FREEMAN)