Special board's re-canvassing: Comelec proclaims Cari as the mayoralty winner

BAYBAY CITY, Philippines—  The victory of Mayor Carmen Cari of this city in the May 2013 polls was upheld by the results of  the re-canvassing conducted by a Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC), convened by Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes at the Comelec central office in Manila last Wednesday.

Brillantes ordered the SBOC-composed by lawyer Abigail Justine Cuaresma-Lilagan, as chairman, lawyer John Rex Laudiangco, as vice-chairman and Director Ester Villaflor-Roxas, as member– to re-canvass the results of the elections in the city, after Cari's win was nullified for the reason that the City Board of Canvassers (CBOC) was "illegally constituted" then.

The re-canvass however showed that Cari got a total of 30,618 votes, which was the same as the results that was canvassed by the CBOC in the 2013 polls. Likewise, her opponent Ma. Lourdez "Malot" Galenzoga's vote remained at a little more than 15,000, similar to the previous results.

The venue for the re-canvassing of the results for the mayoralty post was, by Galenzoga's motion, transferred from Baybay to the Comelec central office "to ensure impartiality."

Cari, when reached to comment about her being proclaimed anew, said she is happy that the election dispute is over. She hopes her detractors are now content with the result.

Her opponent reportedly wanted the re-canvassing postponed when it was started in the morning. She did not return and left her counsel Winston Chua to witness the proceedings in the afternoon. The re-canvass ended at around 4:30 p.m. and Cari was proclaimed immediately thereafter.  (FREEMAN)