Comelec chief wants recount vs Panlilio done in 6 weeks

Commission on Elections chair Jose Melo on Thursday ordered the agency’s second division to finish the recount of votes of Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio and rival Lilia Pineda by middle of September. "I told them it must be finished already within one and a half months. Yung pagbibilang, tapusin agad 'yan dapat (The recount should be finished immediately)," Melo told reporters in an interview. He admitted that they are pressed for time, noting the proximity of the 2010 national elections. Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, head of the second division, vowed to resolve the Panlilio-Pineda case on or before the target period, adding that they have already assigned 21 revision committees to speed up the process. Ferrer said he already ordered the transfer of 4,688 ballot boxes from Pampanga's 20 towns and one city to the Comelec main office at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila. "Hinihintay na lang natin yung order (We are just waiting for the order) from the Supreme Court denying the appeal of Governor Panlilio so that our people there (in Pampanga) can move already," he said. The Supreme Court on July 28 junked the motion for reconsideration lodged by Panlilio as it affirmed its July 17 resolution lifting the status quo order it issued against the recount. Ferrer said that they would use the 3rd and 7th floors of the Palacio del Gobernador to serve as the storage area for the ballot boxes and work station for the revision committees. Pineda, a former provincial board member, had accused Panlilio of massive cheating in the last May 2007 polls. Panlilio won by only 1,147 votes against Pineda. Panlilio, a priest on leave, also defeated then incumbent Governor Mark Lapid in the 2007 elections. Both Pineda and Lapid are known allies of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Ferrer said they have ordered both parties to appoint representatives for the revision committees to put things in order. "Before we start they have to submit their nominated members that’s the next step [before we start the recount]." - GMANews.TV