Retrieve Taguig ballot boxes–Comelec

The Commission on Elections’ First Division has ordered the retrieval of ballot boxes from the Taguig City hall for a recount to decide the poll protest filed by mayoral candidate Dante Tiñga against the incumbent Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano.

In the order dated Sept. 30, the First Division chaired by Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the 47 ballot boxes representing pilot precincts of the recount proceedings will be retrieved in the the last week of October.

“The Division resolves to retrieve the contested ballot boxes included in the pilot precincts following the scheme of collecting 10 ballot boxes a day every morning of the recount proceeding, from its present storage area in Taguig City Hall Auditorium to the recount venue at the Comelec-Project Management Office, Ground Floor, Palacio del Gobernador,  and return the recounted ballot boxes to Taguig at the end of the day,”  said the  order.

The division also scheduled recounts on Oct. 27 and 28 and Nov. 2 to 4, to be undertaken by five recount committees.

It also asked the Philippine Marines to provide the necessary security escorts for the ballot boxes and the retrieval teams.

The First Division took over the case in April from the Second Division, whose members Cayetano had  accused of bias.

The Second Division twice ordered the retrieval of the ballots in August and September last year, but Cayetano’s suppoters barricaded and padlocked the room where the ballot boxes were kept.

Cayetano, the  wife of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, beat Tiñga, a former Supreme Court associate  justice, in the May  2010 mayoral race by 2,420 votes. Tinga filed a protest, claiming cheating and other irregularities.

The case is believed to be a  major reason behind Senator Cayetano’s opposition to the confirmation of Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr., who was then Tiñga’s election lawyer.

Brillantes was named chair last January and was only confirmed this week after Cayetano withdrew his objections to the appointment.

Sarmiento, in an interview with reporters, defended Brillantes from accusations that he interfered in the Cayetano-Tiñga case.

“The First Division will maintain its independence on this issue so whatever decision we make, that is the decision of the division independently and impartially. We will not allow anyone to influence our decision,  considering that the case is very sensitive,” the commissioner said.

Brillantes had earlier said  he would inhibit in the case if it is  elevated to the commission en banc.