Cari vs Malot: Comelec moves recanvassing venue to Manila

BAYBAY CITY, Philippines — Mayor Carmen Cari, whose proclamation as winning mayoralty candidate in the May 2013 elections was nullified by the Comelec, said she was no longer contesting the decision and neither was she objecting to the recent order to transfer the venue of the recanvassing of votes from Baybay to the Comelec central office.

Cari said she wanted the re-canvass to be done on time, as scheduled. "Para mahuman na (so that this will be over)."

The recanvassing of the votes for mayor will be done at the session hall of the Comelec central office in Intramuros, Manila at 10 a.m. on May 21.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., in an order dated May 15, 2014, granted the motion of Ma. Lourdes "Malot" Galenzoga to transfer the re-canvassing from Baybay City to the central office.

Galenzoga asked the recanvass to be transferred to the main office of the Comelec or "in such site or venue where the subject memory cards are being stored and safeguarded."

Brillantes also ordered the constitution of a Special Board of Canvassers to be composed by lawyer Abigail Justine Cuaresma-Lilagan, as chairman, lawyer John Rex Laudiangco, as vice chairman, director Ester Villaflor-Roxas, as member, and three support staffs.

The SBOC was ordered "to reconvene and canvass the votes for position of mayor … and thereafter proclaim the winning mayoralty candidate." (FREEMAN)