Coin toss for Bulacan town not good enough for losing mayoral bet

BOCAUE, Bulacan—The coin toss, which helped proclaim a winner in this town’s mayoral race that had ended in a tie, has been challenged by the losing candidate in a May 16 complaint.

In an 11-page petition, Jim Valerio, a former Bulacan provincial administrator, asked the Commission on Elections to nullify the proclamation of Mayor-elect Eleanor “Joni JJV” Villanueva, who won the coin toss overseen by the Bocaue municipal board of canvassers (MBOC) on May 10.

The coin toss broke a tie when each of the candidates received 16,694 votes.

Comelec Resolution No. 183 allows candidates to draw lots to resolve ties during a canvass of votes, according to Bocaue election officer Deogracias Danao.

But Valerio claimed that the procedure violated election rules, which stated that both parties should first be notified within five days about the tie, before the MBOC could convene a special public meeting to undertake the drawing of lots.

Danao said lawyers of both camps discussed the procedures before the coin toss was conducted.

Villanueva is the daughter of religious leader Eddie Villanueva.  SFM/rga