Comelec upholds Lacuna victory

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has dismissed an election protest that seeks to nullify and set aside the proclamation of Manila Mayor Honey Lacuña.

In a seven-page decision dated Oct. 6, the Comelec Second Division said defeated mayoral candidate Alexander Lopez failed to provide “detailed specifications of the acts or omissions complained of showing the electoral frauds, anomalies, or irregularities in the protested precincts.”

Commissioner Marlon Casquejo presides over the division, which has Senior Member Commissioner Rey Bulay as its only other member.

“Undeniably, (Lopez) employed general and unsubstantiated averments without particularly specifying the circumstances relating to the alleged electoral fraud, anomalies or irregularities,” the Second Division said.

“Considering that such a requirement is mandatory as the provision itself uses the word ‘shall,’ the petition or protest is required to specify the precinct where fraud, vote-buying or irregularities were committed and how these occurrences took place,” it added.

Lopez cited the alleged massive presence of electoral frauds, anomalies and irregularities in all the 1,859 protested clustered precincts and the misreading of ballots, miscounting of votes, unaccounted ballots or votes and unexplained, irregularities and improper rejection of ballots as grounds for his protest against Lacuña.

Lacuña’s alleged illegal use of public facilities, equipment, funds and other resources for the advancement of her candidacy was also one of the grounds cited by Lopez in his protest against the mayor.

The Second Division said Lopez’s allegations are “bare assertions uncorroborated by any other proof, whether testimonial or documentary.”

As for the allegations on Lacuna’s illegal use of public  resources, the Comelec said that Lopez may file an appropriate complaint before the poll body’s law department so that an investigation will be launched. – Ghio Ong