Tañada’s brother claims he won Quezon Congress race

MANILA, Philippines - A younger brother of outgoing Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada claims that he was the legitimate winner of the congressional race in the fourth district of their province.

Wigberto Tañada Jr. has petitioned the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to cancel the proclamation of Angelina Tan and proclaim him as the winner of the seat to be vacated by his brother.

He said the provincial canvassing board should have counted in his favor votes cast for Alvin John Tañada, who the Comelec earlier disqualified for failing to comply with the residency requirement.

He said Alvin John is the adopted son of a distant relative of his father. However, Erin denied Alvin John is their relative.

“The Comelec cancelled the certificate of candidacy of Alvin John. Since he was not a candidate, how could the canvassing board tally the Tañada votes in his favor? These votes should have been counted in my favor,” Tañada Jr. said.

He added that if the Tañada votes were counted for him, he would defeat Tan by 3,000 votes.

Tan was proclaimed winner with 84,782 votes. Tañada received 80,698.

Tañada would have a total of 87,736 votes if Alvin John’s 7,038 were counted for him. That would make him the winner with a 2,954-vote lead over Tan.

Tan is the wife of a Department of Public Works and Highways district engineer.