BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Citing insufficience in form and substance, the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) had dismissed the election protest filed against Bacolod City Representative Greg Gasataya.
Gasataya disclosed that the HRET unanimously decided by a vote of 9-0 to dismiss the election protest filed against him by defeated congressional candidate Jude Thaddeus Sayson, former Bacolod City vice-mayor, for lack of basis.
“For me, this is a vindication since, from the very start, I have maintained that I have not committed any irregularity in the last election,” Gasataya told The Freeman and The Philippine Star.
The resolution, promulgated on November 23, was signed by Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., (HRET chairman), and Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta and Mariano Del Castillo; Rep. Jorge Almonte (Misamis Occidental, Ist District), Ako Bicol Party-List Rep. Rodel Batocabe, Kalinga Party-List Rep. Abigail Faye Ferriol-Pascual, Rep. Joaquin Chipeco, Jr. (Laguna, 2nd District), Rep. Jose Carlos Cari (Leyte, 5th District), and Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte, 2nd District), as members.
In 2016, Sayson filed the complaint protesting the correctness of election results and the votes obtained by Gasataya in all 392 clustered precincts in Bacolod City.
Gasataya got 85,467 votes, compared to Sayson, who garnered 84,431 votes, or a difference of 1,036 votes.
Despite the election protest, Gasataya, a former radio broadcaster, said his work in Congress has not been hampered or direly affected.
Gasataya said the HRET decision will inspire him more to continue working for the people of Bacolod. “It is the best birthday and Christmas gift i have received,” he added. (FREEMAN)