Candidate concedes, then changes mind

KIDAPAWAN CITY—Former North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol, who had earlier announced that he was conceding to reelectionist Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, has reversed himself, saying that massive fraud has forced him to protest the results of the balloting.

Piñol conceded the contest after the provincial canvass showed on Tuesday that he was trailing by at least 40,000 votes behind Mendoza, who garnered 176,795 votes.

At the time, he said he suspected that fraud had played a major role in his defeat but he knew when to accept his fate.

“I have to be man enough to accept defeat, never mind if it was dealt in a manner which did not follow the rules of fair play and honesty,” he said.

It was the second time that Piñol failed to clinch the post. In the 2010 elections, he also lost to Mendoza.

But on Thursday, Piñol repeated what he did after his defeat in the 2010 elections—file a protest against Mendoza.

Lawyers Rene Villarente and Allan Lozare appeared on behalf of Piñol before the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) and questioned the results of the balloting in the towns of Carmen and Pikit.

The PBOC denied the petition and advised Piñol to seek relief from the Commission on Elections.

Piñol said he had conceded earlier because he did not want to cause further controversy.

“But the people who believed in me were clamoring and have asked me to not simply leave the election result,” Piñol said. Carlo Agamon and Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao