Soco told to accept defeat

CEBU, Philippines - Businessman Glenn Anthony Soco should accept defeat as a gentleman, said the eldest daughter of the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez.

“Hapit na 2013. He should concede and accept defeat graciously. There’s something like come again another day, which is the most decent thing to do,” said Engineer Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero.

Soco’s camp, on the other hand, claimed he is not after his victory in the vice gubernatorial race but for the truth to prevail through the ballots.

Soco’s lawyer, George Garcia, said only the Commission on Elections (Comelec) can announce the official result, which is contrary to the claim of Sanchez’s camp that the late vice governor’s victory in last year’s elections has been affirmed by the commission.

“Do not pre-empt the Comelec. It is unfair and improper,” Garcia said.

Soco questioned the claim of Sanchez’s camp that the late vice governor led over 12,000 votes against him.

Zaballero had said the Comelec finished revising votes from 200 ballot boxes in Mandaue City and Consolacion town and the result showed that her father led by about 12,500 votes.

She said Comelec may have denied their motion for intervention but they were allowed to pose as observers.

Soco’s camp is planning to file a case for electoral sabotage against those involved in the “irregularities” in the vice gubernatorial race.

“At this point, ayaw ko munang sabihin. I’m going to determine first sino talaga ‘yung mga may custody, ang in-charge of the election documents after the election,” Garcia said.

 “We’ll be in the process of collating the documents and determining sino ‘yung mga binigyan ng teachers from the precinct papunta sa for example sa City Hall,” he said.

He said it is impossible for teachers, who have ever since been employed during elections, to forget to place all the election documents in the ballot boxes.

“Ang tanong po natin bakit ‘yung pinakaimportanteng dokumento, for example, excess ballots, bakit nawawala when under the law excess ballots should be turn into half, one half should be placed in an envelope, and the other half on another envelope, and yet may mga boxes na walang excess ballot. And at the same time, may mga excess ballots na walang election returns which is also an important document,” he asked.

Garcia said they are not doing this to sow fear among concerned people.

“Hindi namin gusto manalo; gusto lang namin malaman ano ba talaga ang nangyari sa Cebu? Ang atin lang po, sana huwag na maulit ang mga ganitong pangyayari,” he said.

Soco filed an election protest against Sanchez, claiming to be the duly elected vice governor of the province.

Zaballero had said she was hurt by insinuations of irregularities in the vice gubernatorial race.

Sanchez died of lung cancer last April 29.   - (THE FREEMAN)