Puwersa urges Comelec to deduct 30,000 Recto votes

The opposition coalition Puwersa ng Masa (PnM) urged the Commission on Elections yesterday to deduct some 30,000 alleged padded votes from administration Sen. Ralph Recto, saying failure to do so "is tantamount to gross negligence."

PnM lawyer and former immigration chief Rufus Rodriguez said they are also contemplating filing charges against some officials of the poll body after they admitted failure to deduct the questioned votes.

"This is gross negligence," Rodriguez said. He also noted that at least three Comelec commissioners have questioned the decision by the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) to junk a petition questioning at least 180,000 votes given to Recto following the May 14 senatorial elections.

In a report to Comelec Chairman Alfredo Benipayo, executive director Mamasapunod Aguam of the election working group admitted that the 30,000 votes had not been deducted up to the time Recto was proclaimed on June 6 despite the issuance of a Comelec en banc resolution.

The NBOC earlier proclaimed Recto in the No. 12 position followed by re-electionist Gregorio Honasan with a slim lead of just 45,000 votes.

Rodriguez said they are still questioning the votes in at least three provinces in Min-danao which would be critical in determining the final standing of the 13 winning senators.

The 13th place senator would only serve for three years to finish the term of now Vice President Teofisto Guingona.