By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff Reporter
Laoag
City—City elections officer Atty. John Paul
Martin announced that the election protest filed by ex-barangay chairperson Alma
Martin against proclaimed Brgy. 32-B chairperson Estelino Antonio is now in the
Commission on Elections national office in Manila.
This came after Judge
Jonathan Asuncion of Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 2 of Laoag
City handed down a decision in an election protest filed by Ms. Martin that
both candidates garnered 291 votes each or a tie.
During the counting in the
barangay election, the barangay board of canvassers declared Mr. Antonio the
winner with total votes of 290. Ms. Martin’s vote was counted officially at
287.
However during the revision
following the election protest, the court discovered that both candidates
garnered 291 votes.
The court decision also
directed the board of canvassers through the Comelec to break the tie in
accordance with the Omnibus Election Code, which is for both candidates to draw
lots to determine the winner.
In line with this part of the
decision, Atty. Martin explained that under Comelec rules, the court decision
would only become effective after it becomes final and executory, or 15 days
after it has been promulgated.
The election officer further
expounded that the Comelec would now only be charged with breaking the tie if
no appeal for motion for consideration would be filed in the 15-day period.
As this developed, the MTCC
announced that protestee Mr. Antonio, thru his counsel has filed a notice of
appeal to the Comelec national office regarding the court decision.
With this notice, Atty.
Martin said all records have now been transmitted to the national office for
review and they would now have to wait anew for the result of the appeal.
Atty. Martin related that
upon the receipt of the MTCC decision on May 23, he instructed the Brgy. 32
board of canvassers on how to break the tie. But with the recent developments,
all of them would have to wait for the final decision on the matter.
Meanwhile, Mr. Antonio
remains as Brgy. 32-B chairperson pending the final decision.
As developed, Martin said
Antonio remains to be the Barangay Captain of Barangay 32-B La Paz pending on
the final decision.
Brgy. 14 poll protest
IN the other barangay
election protest in Laoag, Atty. Martin announced that the court has upheld the
win of Marconie Mariano as Brgy. 14 chairperson over Jewin Sales.
Atty. Martin added that there
has been no appeal filed on this decision.
LC election officer moves to Baguio
WITH all these development,
Atty. Martin also disclosed that he is set to assume the election officer post
in Baguio City on June 1, 2014.
He explained that this is not
a lateral transfer but a promotion as he moves from being an election officer
III to IV.
He also said that he has not
received any information on who would take his place in Laoag.
The outgoing election officer
expressed his gratitude to the people of Laoag as well as all of the city
officials for his seven years of service here.
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