Comelec junks Panlilio's petition to stop recount
08/19/2009 | 09:24 PM
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has junked the petition of Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio to suspend the recount of the province’s gubernatorial race due to lack of merit.
Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer however ordered Panlilio’s rival, Lilia Pineda, to stop distributing food and drinks to Comelec personnel conducting the recount even though he said such would not affect the impartiality of the poll body.
“(The Comelec is) convinced that the distribution of drinks, food and snacks does not, in any way, affect the impartiality of Comelec personnel in the performance of their duties," Ferrer said in his one-page ruling.
“The Comelec Second Division hereby denies (Panlilio's) instant motion for lack of merit," he added.
Ferrer is head of the Comelec Second Division, which is in charge of the recount.
Panlilio, in his petition to stop the recount, has accused Pineda of indirect bribery, saying the distribution of food and drinks is designed to influence the outcome of the ongoing revision.
The Comelec started the recount last Monday and created 21 revision teams to hasten the results of the recount. The recount involves more than 4,800 ballot boxes.
Comelec Chairman Jose Melo had ordered the 21 revision teams to finish the recount in 45 days.
Pineda, a former provincial member closely associated with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, has accused Panlilio of massive cheating in the May 2007 elections where he won by a margin of only 1,147 votes. - GMANews.TV
Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer however ordered Panlilio’s rival, Lilia Pineda, to stop distributing food and drinks to Comelec personnel conducting the recount even though he said such would not affect the impartiality of the poll body.
“(The Comelec is) convinced that the distribution of drinks, food and snacks does not, in any way, affect the impartiality of Comelec personnel in the performance of their duties," Ferrer said in his one-page ruling.
“The Comelec Second Division hereby denies (Panlilio's) instant motion for lack of merit," he added.
Ferrer is head of the Comelec Second Division, which is in charge of the recount.
Panlilio, in his petition to stop the recount, has accused Pineda of indirect bribery, saying the distribution of food and drinks is designed to influence the outcome of the ongoing revision.
The Comelec started the recount last Monday and created 21 revision teams to hasten the results of the recount. The recount involves more than 4,800 ballot boxes.
Comelec Chairman Jose Melo had ordered the 21 revision teams to finish the recount in 45 days.
Pineda, a former provincial member closely associated with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, has accused Panlilio of massive cheating in the May 2007 elections where he won by a margin of only 1,147 votes. - GMANews.TV
