Taguig proclamation of winners disrupted

MANILA, Philippines - Proclamation of the winning candidates in Taguig City was briefly disrupted after the pin of a tear gas that was with one of the policemen monitoring the area, was accidentally pulled.

Nationalista Party mayoralty bet Lanie Cayetano, winner in the mayoralty race in the city, was in the middle of her speech when the accident happened.

Senior Superintendent Camilo Cascolan, Taguig police chief, said because there was a big crowd, and there was pushing and shoving here and there, this resulted to the accidental release of the tear gas. He said there were those who felt dizzy because of the incident.

The tear gas was under the care of one of the police escorts coming from the Regional Mobile Group. Those affected were, however, given immediate assistance.

Cascolan said the ceremony proceeded peacefully afterwards.

Cayetano won with 95,865 votes as against Kilusang Diwa ng Taguig candidate Dante Tiñga who earned 93,445 votes.

However, the election lawyer of retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Dante Tiñga said yesterday that they will file with the Commission on Elections a motion for annulment of proclamation for the mayoralty position and a formal protest due to the questionable integrity of the election results in Taguig.

According to lawyer Sixto Brillantes, Jr., the results of the canvassing showed that Tinga’s ticket, the Kilusang Diwa ng Taguig, swept all slates — from the district representative to vice mayor down to the councilors — with the exception of the mayoralty post.

Figures showed that Tiñga garnered 93,445 votes, while his rival Taguig first district Rep. Lani Cayetano had 95,865 votes. Tiñga’s son, incumbent Mayor Freddie Tiñga, Vice Mayor George Elias and first district congressional candidate Arnel Cerafica all enjoyed wide margins against their opponents.

Brillantes also cited numerous discrepancies in the counting of the votes and will elevate the matter to the Comelec.

In the vice mayoralty race, KDT’s George Elias was proclaimed winner with 110,137 votes. His rival, Ferdinand Santos garnered 51,504 votes.

Winning congressional candidates for District 1 is Arnel Serafica (50,059 votes) and Sigfrido Tiñga (61,483 votes) for District 2.

Serafica’s opponent, Ren-Ren Cayetano got 31,362 votes while Tiñga’s rival, Angelito “Jett” Reyes earned 16,990 votes.