2 Negros mayors file poll protests

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines  —  Two town mayors in Negros Occidental, who lost in their reelection bids, have filed election protests.

Isabela Mayor Joselito Malabor, who lost to Irene Montilla, sought a recount of votes in 37 clustered precincts.

Malabor lost by 48 votes to Montilla, who got a total of 13,892 votes.

Malabor asked for the transfer of ballot boxes in the questioned precincts from the custody of the Isabela municipal treasurer to the office of the clerk of court of the regional trial court (RTC).

He claimed the voter’s receipts did not reflect the votes that he received.

Montilla said she respects Malabor’s petition for a recount even as she urged him to heed the voice of the people. “The people have spoken. It is time to move on,” he said.

Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña, who lost to Vice Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, filed an election protest before the RTC in this city.

Comelec records show that Yulo got 13,056 votes while Peña got 5,493.

Yulo said she received a copy of Peña’s petition on Saturday and was given five days to reply.

Moises Padilla remains under the control of the Commission on Elections due to election-related killings.

Yulo’s brother Mark and nephew, Michael, a town councilor, were killed in an ambush on April 25.