Echiverri files poll protest vs Malapitan

MANILA, Philippines – Outgoing Caloocan City Rep. Enrico Echiverri has filed an election protest against re-elected Mayor Oscar Malapitan with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In a statement issued Monday, Echiverri, who ran under the United Nationalist Alliance accused Malapitan’s camp of being behind anomalies in the recent elections. He filed the poll protest on May 20.

Malapitan, who ran under the banner of the Liberal Party, allegedly used his connection with the Aquino administration to win his re-election bid.

“I shall not allow this to simply slide because it was the mandate of the people of Caloocan that was compromised in this election,” Echiverri said.

He claimed there have been instances of election-related violence and rampant vote-buying.

Echiverri said the vote counting machines were delivered on the actual day of the elections, leaving no opportunity for them to be tested and sealed three days before the polls, as protocol dictates.

He also said there were discrepancies in the ballots and the actual number of voters.