Court upholds 2004 victory of Pampanga town mayor

SAN FERNARNDO, Pampanga — After a two-year electoral battle, the mayor of Sta. Ana, Pampanga can now rest his mind after the local regional trial court upheld his victory in the 2004 elections.

In a 136-page decision, Judge Carmelita Gutierrez-Fruelda of Regional Trial Court Branch 43 affirmed the victory of Mayor Francisco Gaddi over his rival, Dominador Dizon, the standard bearer of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Fruelda dismissed Dizon’s electoral protest due to insufficient evidence, citing the results of the recount of ballots from 74 polling precincts showing that Gaddi got a total of 7,734 votes compared to Dizon’s 7,592, or a margin of 142 votes.

Gaddi was declared winner in the 2004 mayoral race with a margin of 745 votes, according to acting municipal election officer Filomeno Eufemia Jr.

Dizon, however, questioned the results in the 74 polling precincts, alleging that "dagdag-bawas (vote padding-shaving)" had taken place, many voters had been disenfranchised and that Gaddi had resorted to massive vote-buying.

"My legal victory is only a manifestation of the true will of the people of Sta. Ana and it only shows that best minds and hearts prevail over money," Gaddi said.