Cho camp won’t pursue protest

CEBU, Philippines —  The camp of incumbent Cordova Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho will no longer pursue an election protest to question the victory of businessman Cesar Suan in the mayorship.

Instead, they will now focus on the disqualification case they filed against Suan and his entire winning slate, said one of Cho’s lawyers, Jessica Natad, afternoon on Friday, May 20, 2022.

They called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to act on the petition now.

They filed the petition on election day, which the Comelec received 15 minutes to midnight. The poll body, however, did not act on it and proclaimed Suan winner early morning the following day, instead.

Cho’s camp is hoping that getting Suan and his team disqualified would usher in a special election.

Cho lost to Suan by a margin of 4,070 votes, something she described as “unbelievable.” She got 17,052 votes while Suan got 21,222 votes.

Cho has alleged massive vote buying and other election irregularities during the election period and on election day itself, something that Suan belied.

“Walay vote buying nahitabo. It was a fair and honest election,” Suan said in a press conference also on May 20.

Suan also said he would not have minded if Cho pursued an election protest and lobbied for a special election.

He said he and Cho might be political opponents but they are not enemies and calling for a special election is her right.

“Mayor Teche, it is your right to call for a special election… dili ta kontra pero kaatbang lang ta’s pulitika,” Suan said.

Plans

Suan said he is mayor even to those who did not support him in the elections. If there are no hiccups, he will assume office on July 1, 2022.

He said he will work to make Cordova a city with new investments.

Suan also warned non-performing personnel of the municipal government that they will be let go. Those who are effective at their jobs will be retained, regardless of their political affiliation.

“Kadtong ma-assess nga walay maayong performance nganha sa munisipyo, ma-supporter man nako o supporter ni Mayor Teche, taktakon gyud na. Pero kanang maayo og performance, ma-supporter man nako o dili, magpabilin na sila,” Suan said.

He assured that he will continue Cho’s projects and programs that are beneficial but will stop those that are not.

He will also review the ongoing reclamation project in the town, as well as the ongoing construction of the town hospital.

“Ato-a ning ipa-review ang kontrata sa reclamation area kay hasta ako wala ko kabalo sa detalye ana. Kanang ongoing construction sa hospital, atoa nang ipa-check kay kung wala na nakapasar sa standard, magtukod ta og laing hospital kay dugay na ni nga pangandoy sa atong katawhan. Unya, ang kanang hospital, kung nakapasar man gani na sa standards, atoa nang padungagan og budget aron mahuman gyud na,” Suan said. – JMO (FREEMAN)