VM-elect Canoy seeks dismissal of rival’s protest

CEBU, Philippines - Vice Mayor-elect Miguel Antonio Canoy of San Fernando town has asked the Regional Trial Court for the dismissal of the election protest filed by his opponent, Ricardo Reluya.

Canoy said the protest was “unfounded” considering the more than 800 margin of votes he obtained in the last May 13 elections.

“His margin of defeat is quite substantial and he is filing this election protest to harass and embarrass the protestee who is duly elected vice-mayor of San Fernando,” Canoy said.

Canoy was declared winning candidate for vice mayor with 16,333 votes as 15,468 votes of Reluya.

Reluya filed an election protest against Canoy for alleged anomalies and irregularities in the casting, counting and canvassing of votes. He contested 50 clustered precincts. He said the presence of goons in Barangay Panadtaran where clustered precincts 27, 28, and 29 were located allegedly caused so much tension at the voting area.

Reluya alleged that the Municipal Board of Canvassers hastily proclaim Canoy even if the results from the three precincts were not yet transmitted to the Comelec server.

“The truth is that such averment is a shotgun accusation without specifically mentioning how and where and what particular barangays and precincts in the entire municipality these electoral frauds, anomalies and irregularities were allegedly committed by the protestee,” Canoy said in his answer to the petition.

He also denied hiring goons to intimate the supporters of his opponent. Canoy also filed a counter-protest against Reluya. He asked the court to examine all protested precincts to determine the “true sentiment” of the voters. —/FPL (FREEMAN)