New canvassing set in South Cotabato

Daanbantayan town mayor Maria Luisa Loot has filed counter-charges against the family of her political rival in the last elections.

Earlier, Loot’s political opponents have filed election protest, claiming that the elections in the town were marred by irregularities. But Loot brushed aside the allegation and described the election protest as purely harassment.

Loot, who won in the vice mayoralty race, said she would also file a disbarment case against lawyer Liza Corro, the sister and counsel of mayoralty candidate Augusto “Itok” Corro, who lost to her son, Sun Shimura.

Loot accused Liza of harassing their supporters, barangay officials and teachers who composed the board of election inspectors.

Loot said that Liza is using her profession to harass the people in the town.

Liza filed on behalf of her brother an election protest before the Regional Trial Court in Bogo, asking for recount of the votes.

Corro wants the court to set aside the proclamation of Shimura and for the Commission on Elections to recount all votes cast in all 185 precincts under protest in Daanbantayan.

In their election protest, Corro accused Shimura’s leaders and followers of staying within the premises of voting centers to coerce and intimidate the board of election inspectors to commit fraud and other irregularities during the counting of votes.— Gregg M. Rubio/LPM