Comelec urged: Hasten winners’ proclamation

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Concerned citizens and leaders of winning candidates here have urged the Commission on Election (COMELEC) to speed up the proclamation of winners.

This, as losing candidates have allegedly hatched plans to stage protest rallies to delay the proclamation of winning candidates.

Raul Ronquillo, campaign manager of Mayor Rey Aquino who is leading by a wide margin in the Namfrel-PPCRV quick count in the third district congressional race, said any further delay will only encourage unnecessary and potentially violent public disturbances.

"There’s no reason for the Commission on Elections to delay the proclamation of winners considering that just about everybody already knows who won," he said.

As of the last Namfrel-PPCRV count, Aquino was ahead by about 30,000 votes over his two rivals, board member Ferdinand Labung and former city councilor and assistant health secretary Eric Domingo.

In a statement, Aquino, a three-term mayor here, called on everyone to come together "so we can move forward faster in improving the lives of our people."

"It’s time to set aside partisanship and uphold the gains of our democratic process for public good," he said.