COMELEC proclaims new N. Vizcaya governor 06-02-05

	NORDIS WEEKLY February 5, 2006
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COMELEC proclaims new N. Vizcaya governor
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (Feb. 2) — The First Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) recently decided in favor of gubernatorial candidate Leonardo Byron Perez, who filed an electoral protest against opponent Luisa Lloren Cuaresma, the proclaimed winner of the 2004 gubernatorial elections. In a resolution dated January 31, 2006 signed by Commissioner Rufino SB. Javier, acting Comelec 1st Division chairperson, and Commissioners Resurreccion Z. Borra and Romeo A. Brawner, the electoral body affirmed the findings of a Revision Committee that studied the votes under protest. Their lawyers and revisers properly represented the contesting parties in revision process. Cuaresma won after garnering 56,008 votes in the 2004 provincial canvass, while Perez obtained 53,227 votes. The lead largely came from Bambang town where Cuaresma served as a mayor for a long time. “I doubted the validity of the canvass because the election returns from Bambang were the last to be transmitted. Election returns from 14 other towns, including those from remote and inaccessible towns, came ahead of Bambang. And it is only about 20 kilometers away from the Capitol,” said Perez. Before the election returns from Bambang were counted, Perez had a lead of more than 5,000 votes. However, Cuaresma gained an overwhelming lead of more than 8,000 votes from Bambang. In the tabulated results after the revision, 3,509 votes for Cuaresma were invalidated. However, 538 votes were added as valid claims in her favor. For Perez, only 18 votes were invalidated, and 506 votes were added as valid claims. Summing it up, votes for Cuaresma counted 53,037 while votes for Perez counted 53,715, giving the latter a slim edge of 678 votes. “The Commission (First Division) hereby annuls the proclamation of Luisa Lloren Cuaresma as Governor of Nueva Vizcaya and declares Leonardo Byron Perez as duly elected Governor of said province,” the resolution stated. The resolution also ordered Cuaresma to “vacate the gubernatorial post, to immediately cease, and desist from performing the functions attached to the said office.” The resolution concluded, “Considering the proximity of the office’s end of term, this resolution is hereby declared to be immediately executed.” Perez immediately wrote department heads of government agencies requesting them “to refrain from making overnight decisions” that would jeopardize the provincial government. He attached a copy of the Comelec resolution to his letter. Cuaresma is currently in Metro Manila for a meeting of the League of Provinces. Meanwhile, Perez is awaiting the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to implement the decision in his favor. # Abe Almirol for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
Home \| Back to top	Previous \| Next

	NORDIS WEEKLY February 5, 2006
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
COMELEC proclaims new N. Vizcaya governor
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (Feb. 2) — The First Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) recently decided in favor of gubernatorial candidate Leonardo Byron Perez, who filed an electoral protest against opponent Luisa Lloren Cuaresma, the proclaimed winner of the 2004 gubernatorial elections. In a resolution dated January 31, 2006 signed by Commissioner Rufino SB. Javier, acting Comelec 1st Division chairperson, and Commissioners Resurreccion Z. Borra and Romeo A. Brawner, the electoral body affirmed the findings of a Revision Committee that studied the votes under protest. Their lawyers and revisers properly represented the contesting parties in revision process. Cuaresma won after garnering 56,008 votes in the 2004 provincial canvass, while Perez obtained 53,227 votes. The lead largely came from Bambang town where Cuaresma served as a mayor for a long time. “I doubted the validity of the canvass because the election returns from Bambang were the last to be transmitted. Election returns from 14 other towns, including those from remote and inaccessible towns, came ahead of Bambang. And it is only about 20 kilometers away from the Capitol,” said Perez. Before the election returns from Bambang were counted, Perez had a lead of more than 5,000 votes. However, Cuaresma gained an overwhelming lead of more than 8,000 votes from Bambang. In the tabulated results after the revision, 3,509 votes for Cuaresma were invalidated. However, 538 votes were added as valid claims in her favor. For Perez, only 18 votes were invalidated, and 506 votes were added as valid claims. Summing it up, votes for Cuaresma counted 53,037 while votes for Perez counted 53,715, giving the latter a slim edge of 678 votes. “The Commission (First Division) hereby annuls the proclamation of Luisa Lloren Cuaresma as Governor of Nueva Vizcaya and declares Leonardo Byron Perez as duly elected Governor of said province,” the resolution stated. The resolution also ordered Cuaresma to “vacate the gubernatorial post, to immediately cease, and desist from performing the functions attached to the said office.” The resolution concluded, “Considering the proximity of the office’s end of term, this resolution is hereby declared to be immediately executed.” Perez immediately wrote department heads of government agencies requesting them “to refrain from making overnight decisions” that would jeopardize the provincial government. He attached a copy of the Comelec resolution to his letter. Cuaresma is currently in Metro Manila for a meeting of the League of Provinces. Meanwhile, Perez is awaiting the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to implement the decision in his favor. # Abe Almirol for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
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