HRET junks Aga Muhlach’s case vs CamSur lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) has junked an election protest filed by actor-turned- politician Aga Muhlach against Camarines Sur Rep. Felix William Fuentebella.

In a resolution promulgated last Aug. 28, the HRET upheld the election and proclamation of Fuentebella after Muhlach withdrew his protest.

Fuentebella earlier also withdrew his counter-protest against Muhlach when they filed a joint motion to dismiss the election protest last Aug. 27.

With the ruling, the HRET recalled all orders it had issued on the protest and counter-protest, particularly those relative to the revision of ballots in the 57 contested poll precincts.

The HRET is chaired by Supreme Court Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. with Justices Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin as members.

Members of the tribunal from the House are Reps. Franklin Bautista (Davao del Sur), Joselito Mendoza (Bulacan), Mark Enverga (Quezon City), Ma. Theresa Bonoan (Manila), Jerry Treñas (Iloilo) and Luzviminda Ilagan of the Gabriela party-list.

Earlier, the HRET found that Muhlach’s protest and Fuentebella’s counter-protest were sufficient in form and substance, prompting the tribunal to set the cases for preliminary conference.

The tribunal had ordered all ballot boxes, voting records and paraphernalia used in the election in the contested precincts collected.

In his protest, Muhlach questioned the results of the elections in 225 clustered precincts in the towns of Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Presentacion, Sagnay, Siruma and Tinambac.

For his part, Fuentebella claimed that Muhlach and his camp caused delay in the voting process.

With the dismissal of the protest and counter-protest, the allegations of both parties and all HRET orders have become moot and academic.

Fuentebella, of the Nationalist People’s Coalition defeated Muhlach, who ran under the ruling Liberal Party.