Comelec set to rule on Pampanga poll row

N E W S B R I E F S

02/09/2010

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to hand down its ruling on the election protest case involving the gubernatorial post of the province of Pampanga.

Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer said the poll body has completed its review of the 22,000-page protest case lodged by former Pampanga provincial board member Lilia Pineda over the victory of former priest Eduardo “Among Ed” Panlilio in the gubernatorial elections in the province in 2007. That volume of documents included the counter protest filed by Panlilio.

Ferrer said the Comelec has already prepared a draft decision on the case.

He, however, admitted that it took the poll body some time to finish reviewing all the documents.

“It took long to finish. Well, it’s because it had to be studied thoroughly as my colleagues (in the Comelec) wanted,” Ferrer said in an interview with newsmen.

Last September, the Comelec Second Division headed by Ferrer and members Commissioners Lucenito tagle and Elias Yusoph said they were ready to issue out the ruling on the case, but this was shelved due to some undisclosed reasons.

Last month, Ferrer said he had already prepared a draft resolution which had been read and approved by other members of the Comelec Second Division, paving the way for its issuance soon.

But when asked about the ruling’s content, Ferrer declined to give any details, as this was “secret.”

He, though, said the rightful winner in the 2007 Pampanga gubernatorial contest will be announced on Thursday afternoon at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.

Pineda had filed an election protest questioning the victory of priest-turned politician Panlilio, who won by a margin of 1,147 over her in the 2007 elections.

The Comelec began the recount proceedings August last year.

Marie A. Surbano

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