Losing bet asks Comelec for manual count

THE reelection of Tudela Mayor Erwin Yu in northern Cebu is being challenged by his opponent Loret Maratas.
Maratas of One Cebu emerged from a closed door party meeting yesterday and announced plans to ask the Commission on Election (Comelec) to do a manual count of at least two polling precincts in the Camotes Island town.
“Open at least two PCOS machines, do a manual count to settle the score,” said Maratas who lost to Yu (Bakud-LP) by 1,133 votes.
Maratas said he cannot accept the validity of the results of the automated polls in their town because of “irregularities.”
The only way to verify the results is to canvass the ballots of at least two PCOS machines manually, he insisted.
If the results of the manual count and that of the machine are the same, Maratas said he will “surrender.”
He cited the case of his runningmate Bebet Solante getting the same number of votes in two polling precincts.
Bebet Solante lost to Greman Solante of LP-Bakud by a vote of 3,723-2,745.
He also cannot accept the fact that in a barangay he considers as his bulwark, he only got 78 votes, when they expect him to get more than 200 votes.
Maratas’ son, the incumbent Tudela Vice Mayor Clint Maratas who ran for council also lost in last Monday’s vote.