Gwen, Tomas, Cuenco welcome ballot recount

To prove that there was no electoral cheating in Cebu City during last year's elections, Mayor Tomas Osmeña and south district Rep. Antonio Cuenco yesterday welcomed the move to recount ballots in the city.

"Fine. The recount will show less than one percent difference. And the opposition had their own watchers during the entire electoral process, otherwise they would have ended up getting zero," Osmeña told The Freeman last night.

Cuenco, in a separate interview, agreed with the recounting of ballots to prove that there was no cheating in Cebu, where President Gloria Arroyo earned more than a million votes over her closest rival Fernando Poe, Jr.

"The recounting of ballots will prove that there is nothing to hide in Cebu, especially in my district. The recounting will tell her that there was no cheating even in the tallying of results and all that," Cuenco said.

He added he is willing to contribute funds for the recounting of ballots. Re-computation and revision of election returns and the certificate of canvass of every ballot box costs about P500.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia also welcomed the proposal by defeated vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda for a recount of ballots in the province.

Pablo John Garcia, who spoke in behalf of the governor, said they already expected the proposal.

"It means she is really serious and that she is putting her money where her mouth is...unahon nimo og igo ang pinakadali og pilde," Garcia said.

Legarda deposited an initial amount of P4 million to the Supreme Court for the recount of ballots in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Cebu.