BAGUIO CITY — Former Kalinga Vice Governor James Edduba’s lead over former Tabuk Mayor Ferdinand Tubban has increased after an initial recount in the pilot precincts in the ongoing election protest.
The motion filed by Edubba before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed that he recovered a net of seven votes, which is more than the required substantial recovery of 20 percent.
Aside from the seven votes, Edduba had a total of 20 claimed ballots, which is more than enough to offset the winning margin of Tubban. Edduba now has the winning margin of 17 votes.
Last January 30, the revision, recount and reappreciation of the ballots from the pilot protested clustered precincts was terminated.
Under Comelec Resolution No. 9720, there is substantial recovery when the protestant is able to recover at least 20 percent of the overall lead of the protestee or counter-protestee.
Edduba’s camp welcomed the development, saying it has proven his victory in the 2019 polls. He also bared that he initially did not want to file an election protest but the volunteers demanded an explanation about the missing ballots.
“Noong tinalo ako ng 10 votes, I felt I betrayed my supporters for not doing my best during the campaign but with new development na-feel ko na I am proven correct, na naloko kami last election. Kahit hindi man ako paupuin, at least alam ng tao na ako yung totoong nanalo. I would like to prove that you can win even if you do not have money, kung may magandang intention ka, may nakita silang maganda kang ginawa. I would like to do that in Kalinga,” Edduba said.
(When I lost by 10 votes, I felt I betrayed my supporters for not doing my best during the campaign. But with the new development, I felt that I’m proven correct, that we were cheated in the last election. But even if I’m not allowed to assume the position, the people at least know who really won. I would like to prove that you can win even if you do not have money, if you have good intentions, and if they see you’ve done something good. )
“I know na usually sa experience ko sa protest walang nananalo, but dahil sa mga supporters ko, sabi nila this is the time na ilaban mo naman kami. Practically even the money that was used for this is nagpass the hat sila, even until now, they are still contributing. This fight is not only for me but for my supporters,” he said.
(I know that that usually no one wins an election protest. But my supporters told me I should fight for them. Actually, they even passed the hat to raise the money I used for the protest, and even now they are still contributing.)
It can be recalled that Edduba has demanded a recount in some areas of Kalinga after Tubban defeated him by a mere 10 votes in the 2019 polls.
The election protest stemmed from reports that showed the transmittal of election results from certain towns such as Sucbot in Pinukpuk were also delayed, which supposedly changed the outcome of the elections. Edduba was also leading earlier on during the elections.
According to Kalinga provincial election officer, lawyer Ricardo Lampac, the delay of the result and the transmission from Sucbot were due to problems related to the vote counting machine (VCM), prompting the change to a substitute machine.