Supporters of Muntinlupa mayoral bet barricade city hall, decry ‘fraud’

Former Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro is hoping to get back to city hall.  But he’s behind in the counting. (www.mmda.gov.ph photo)

MANILA — Hundreds of supporters of Aldrin San Pedro, who is running for mayor of Muntinlupa, have barricaded city hall, claiming there was cheating in the counting of votes in the mayoral race being led so far by the incumbent, Jimmy Fresnedi.

“Tell the cheater to leave office!,” a supporter cried over a megaphone, as her companions cheered.

Policemen carrying truncheons and shields stood firm between the supporters and the city hall compound, where the City Board of Canvassers convened to canvass the votes from Muntinlupa’s nine barangays.

As of past 2 a.m., lawyer Allan Sindo, board chair, said 93.85 percent of the total votes has been successfully electronically transmitted and canvassed.

The remaining votes from 26 precincts have to be “manually uploaded” because they could not be electronically transmitted, Sindo said.

He said he has asked for policemen who could escort the board of election inspectors carrying the SD cards containing the data from those precincts.

“We cannot adjourn the board without a proclamation,” Sindo said, noting that San Pedro’s supporters could file an appeal afterwards instead if they wanted to.  SFM