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LC brgy poll protest reaches Comelec nat’l office

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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