| by Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) |
MANILA, Philippines - The Liberal Party (LP) assailed yesterday the Commission on Elections (Comelec)’s rulings against its candidates.
PiNoy Lawyers, a group of volunteer lawyers tasked with protecting the votes of LP presidential bet Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, said the latest decisions of the Comelec involving local leaders of the LP were disturbing, to say the least, because it would set back their campaign in key areas.
Those affected by Comelec decisions were Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio, Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca, Bulacan Gov. Jonjon Mendoza, Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo and Palawan LP congressional bet Abraham Mitra.
The Second Division of the Comelec ordered yesterday Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio, one of the governors critical of the Arroyo administration, to step down after a recount allegedly showed that his rival beat him in the 2007 midterm elections.
In a resolution, Second Division commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer, Elias Yusoph and Lucenito Tagle declared former Pampanga board member Lilia Pineda as the duly elected governor of the province in the 2007 polls.
PiNoy Lawyers’ spokesman Amor Amorado pointed out that Padaca, Mendoza, and Panlilio won by comfortable margins but their rivals overtook them in the Comelec recount.
Robredo, who has been Naga City mayor for 18 years, has a pending disqualification case over questions on his citizenship. Mitra’s candidacy, on the other hand, has been challenged on the issue of residency.
Amorado also expressed concern over a pending case in the Comelec against Batangas Vice Gov. Mark Leviste, also an LP member.
“While there appears to be a rush in decisions involving incumbent LP officials, the Comelec has been pussy-footing in our bid to declare Vetellano Acosta of the KBL (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan) a nuisance candidate. Even if he is finally disqualified, Acosta will remain in the ballot,” he said.
“We pray that this is not going to be 2004 all over again. Like in 1986, the people will not allow those with evil designs to triumph,” Amorado said.
The Comelec Second Division had ordered a recount of the 2007 Pampanga gubernatorial contest.
“We are enraged, not only for Pampanga Gov. Among Ed Panlilio, whose victory in 2007 was overturned and was, in effect, labeled a ‘cheater’ by the decision,” the LP said.
“We are enraged for the Comelec as a democratic institution, particularly its Second Division, as it seems that the forces of darkness have effectively used it as a conduit in its machinations against local leaders of hope. The Liberal Party will continue fighting for all of them, for all others who are reportedly ‘next in line,’ and for the Filipinos’ quest for justice,” the LP added.
The LP also questioned the decision of the First Division of the Comelec to disqualify Mitra from the Palawan gubernatorial derby on grounds of residency.
“We support him in contesting the decision, whether in the Comelec or in the Supreme Court,” LP president Sen. Manuel Roxas II said.
“The decision smacks of irregularities. We have received reliable information that many of the affidavits that were used to dispute Representative Mitra’s residency in the town of Aborlan, Palawan were acquired under duress. A draft decision junking Rep. Mitra’s gubernatorial candidacy circulated in Palawan even before it was promulgated by the Comelec,” Roxas said.
Roxas said the core of the issue was not simply about the technicalities of Mitra’s residency. “It is about giving the people of Palawan enough choices - especially one that is between cash and character,” Roxas said.
PiNoy Lawyers, a group of volunteer lawyers tasked with protecting the votes of LP presidential bet Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, said the latest decisions of the Comelec involving local leaders of the LP were disturbing, to say the least, because it would set back their campaign in key areas.
Those affected by Comelec decisions were Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio, Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca, Bulacan Gov. Jonjon Mendoza, Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo and Palawan LP congressional bet Abraham Mitra.
The Second Division of the Comelec ordered yesterday Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio, one of the governors critical of the Arroyo administration, to step down after a recount allegedly showed that his rival beat him in the 2007 midterm elections.
In a resolution, Second Division commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer, Elias Yusoph and Lucenito Tagle declared former Pampanga board member Lilia Pineda as the duly elected governor of the province in the 2007 polls.
PiNoy Lawyers’ spokesman Amor Amorado pointed out that Padaca, Mendoza, and Panlilio won by comfortable margins but their rivals overtook them in the Comelec recount.
Robredo, who has been Naga City mayor for 18 years, has a pending disqualification case over questions on his citizenship. Mitra’s candidacy, on the other hand, has been challenged on the issue of residency.
Amorado also expressed concern over a pending case in the Comelec against Batangas Vice Gov. Mark Leviste, also an LP member.
“While there appears to be a rush in decisions involving incumbent LP officials, the Comelec has been pussy-footing in our bid to declare Vetellano Acosta of the KBL (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan) a nuisance candidate. Even if he is finally disqualified, Acosta will remain in the ballot,” he said.
“We pray that this is not going to be 2004 all over again. Like in 1986, the people will not allow those with evil designs to triumph,” Amorado said.
The Comelec Second Division had ordered a recount of the 2007 Pampanga gubernatorial contest.
“We are enraged, not only for Pampanga Gov. Among Ed Panlilio, whose victory in 2007 was overturned and was, in effect, labeled a ‘cheater’ by the decision,” the LP said.
“We are enraged for the Comelec as a democratic institution, particularly its Second Division, as it seems that the forces of darkness have effectively used it as a conduit in its machinations against local leaders of hope. The Liberal Party will continue fighting for all of them, for all others who are reportedly ‘next in line,’ and for the Filipinos’ quest for justice,” the LP added.
The LP also questioned the decision of the First Division of the Comelec to disqualify Mitra from the Palawan gubernatorial derby on grounds of residency.
“We support him in contesting the decision, whether in the Comelec or in the Supreme Court,” LP president Sen. Manuel Roxas II said.
“The decision smacks of irregularities. We have received reliable information that many of the affidavits that were used to dispute Representative Mitra’s residency in the town of Aborlan, Palawan were acquired under duress. A draft decision junking Rep. Mitra’s gubernatorial candidacy circulated in Palawan even before it was promulgated by the Comelec,” Roxas said.
Roxas said the core of the issue was not simply about the technicalities of Mitra’s residency. “It is about giving the people of Palawan enough choices - especially one that is between cash and character,” Roxas said.
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