INQUIRER.net Eleksyon 2007

Panlilio supporters start recount protest

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tonette Orejas

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—Black and yellow ribbons began to be worn by people and tied on vehicles in Pampanga as a sign of protest over the election recount against Governor Eddie Panlilio by his closest rival, former board member Lilia Pineda.

The protest symbol stands for the “death of democracy in Pampanga and of former President Corazon Aquino who restored democracy in the country,” said Adonis Simpao, spokesman of the Kapampangan Kontra Recount (K2R).

He said K2R was mounting a protest rally along the Dolores Junction here at 3 p.m. Tuesday to assail the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Supreme Court for allowing the “sham protest” to proceed.

A lawyer of Panlilio, Ernesto Francisco Jr., said he was filing a motion for reconsideration with the Comelec over its order to form 21 revision committees instead of the usual four committees.

The poll body also ordered Panlilio to submit names of 42 revisors.

“Unlike Pineda, Among (Father) Ed does not have the money to pay the revisors much less hire at least five lawyers to oversee the revision,” Francisco said on Sunday.

Panlilio, he said, needs not less than P70,000 daily, six days a week, for the next several months “to defend his votes against this sham protest.”

The Comelec office in Manila will begin the recount on Wednesday, Comelec provincial supervisor Temie Lambino said.

The 4,688 ballot boxes, including the election returns and official ballots used in the 2007 elections, were transferred to the Comelec central office on Friday.

Supporters and volunteers of Pineda and Panlilio observed the collection of the ballot boxes in 20 towns and the City of San Fernando. Pineda had deposited P4.4 million with the Comelec to fund the recount.

Pineda’s son, Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, said his mother wanted to count the votes that were rightfully hers.

“What we’re saying is some votes written with ‘Nanay (Mother) Baby’ were not counted for her,” Mayor Pineda said.

He said the Comelec approved that name the night before the May 10, 2007 election.

But he said this order did not reach the precincts on time.

Mayor Pineda said among the areas where that name was not counted was Betis in Guagua, where Panlilio won by over 9,000 votes.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, an ally of Pineda, has no hand in the recount, a spokesperson for the President said.

“When it’s a local issue, we just want to leave it to the local leaders. National issues are the priority of the President,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said during the Thursday visit of the President in Sasmuan.

The President’s son, Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo, said he did not meddle in the recount case.

“The Supreme Court cannot be influenced by anybody,” he said.

With a report from Charlene Cayabyab, Inquirer Central Luzon

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