Bishop: Church to respect recount results
Central Luzon Desk
Charlene CayabyabLUBAO, Pampanga, Philippines — The top Catholic Church official in Pampanga said the Church would respect the outcome of the recount against Governor Eddie Panlilio, a priest on leave, but said the process should be monitored and reviewed to ensure it was done properly.
San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto on Friday said it was important to assess the process of recount, which was ordered by the Supreme Court, “if it was done according to justice and rules of the Commission on Elections.”
Panlilio won over former Board Member Lilia Pineda by 1,147 votes in 2007, but Pineda contested the result, saying ballots written with her moniker “Nanay Baby” were not counted.
A lawyer for Pineda said his client was leading in the recount but Panlilio’s lawyer disputed this.
Aniceto said asking for a recount is the right of any political candidate.
“We respect that it is the right of any political candidate … to know the truth [about] election results,” he said.
Aniceto, who celebrated mass for the feast of Sta. Monica that was attended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo here on Friday, said the recount is part of democracy in the country.
“The recount is a constitutional and a democratic process so we should look at this in a holistic and democratic way,” he said.
Leaders of the Pampanga Christian Ministers’ Council earlier supported Panlilio, saying they believed in the integrity of his victory so there was no need for the recount.
Copyright 2009 INQUIRER.net and content partners. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
TALLIES
| Escudero, Francis Joseph (GO) | 1,530,337 |
|---|---|
| Legarda, Loren (GO) | 1,445,355 |
| Aquino, Benigno Simeon III (GO) | 1,427,372 |
| Lacson, Panfilo (GO) | 1,315,961 |
| Pangilinan, Francis (IND) | 1,270,851 |
| Villar, Manuel Jr (GO) | 1,267,929 |
| Cayetano, Alan Peter (GO) | 1,097,065 |
| Arroyo, Joker (TU) | 1,046,152 |
| Angara, Edgardo (TU) | 999,396 |
| Trillanes, Antonio IV (GO) | 980,643 |
| Recto, Ralph (TU) | 971,250 |
| Zubiri, Juan Miguel (TU) | 957,930 |
| Legarda, Loren (GO) | 14,161,803 |
|---|---|
| Escudero, Francis Joseph (GO) | 13,919,444 |
| Lacson, Panfilo (GO) | 12,027,067 |
| Villar, Manuel Jr (GO) | 11,674,064 |
| Aquino, Benigno Simeon III (GO) | 11,107,999 |
| Pangilinan, Francis (IND) | 11,092,665 |
| Angara, Edgardo (TU) | 9,689,358 |
| Cayetano, Alan Peter (GO) | 9,030,748 |
| Honasan, Gregorio (IND) | 9,013,231 |
| Arroyo, Joker (TU) | 8,977,075 |
| Trillanes, Antonio IV (GO) | 8,710,648 |
| Pimentel, Aquilino III (GO) | 8,449,279 |
| Legarda, Loren (GO) | 18,352,290 |
|---|---|
| Escudero, Francis Joseph (GO) | 18,095,757 |
| Lacson, Panfilo (GO) | 15,442,480 |
| Villar, Manuel Jr (GO) | 15,192,880 |
| Pangilinan, Francis (IND) | 14,415,704 |
| Aquino, Benigno Simeon III (GO) | 14,234,979 |
| Angara, Edgardo (TU) | 12,404,138 |
| Cayetano, Allan Peter (GO) | 11,736,410 |
| Arroyo, Joker (TU) | 11,550,655 |
| Honasan, Gregorio (IND) | 11,487,784 |
| Trillanes, Antonio IV (GO) | 11,138,067 |
| Pimentel, Aquilino III (GO) | 10,865,397 |
Breaking News
- 03:30PM: Wounded East Timor president Horta airlifted to Australia
- 03:25PM: Bayan seeks independent probe of rail projects
- 03:21PM: Be ‘loyal, faithful,’ Army general urges comrades
- 03:04PM: Cancellations, delays at Paris airports due to strike
- 02:58PM: CBCP asked to support anti-Arroyo protests
- 02:55PM: (UPDATE 9) Lozada not kidnapped--gov’t officials
- 02:26PM: Gov’t posts P9.4B budget deficit in 2007, lowest in 10 years
- 02:14PM: Ombudsman forms panel to probe complaints on NBN deal
- 02:11PM: Clinton momentum stalls as Obama speeds
- 02:09PM: Solon seeks lower age of liability for child offender
- 02:07PM: 3 dead, 10 hurt as truck rams into house in Roxas
- 01:25PM: Australia sending more troops to East Timor--Rudd
