Defeated candidate Zenaida Salazar filed the election protest after losing by only 32 votes to Mancio.
Bogo Regional Trial Court Judge Jesus de la Peña ordered the recount despite a motion for inhibition which Mancio filed against him, claiming a brother of the judge is a political rival of hers.
De la Peña denied the motion, saying that his brother’s political activities are none of his business and that he himself has never been involved in politics. — Freeman News Service