MikeLigalig.com

By Fred Amora

The congressional race in the third district is far from over as the close fight between former Gov. Rene Relampagos and lawyer Adam Jala, son of last-termer Rep. Eladio Jala rages on.

Congressional bet Rene Relampagos was leading Tuesday night at the NAMFREL tabulation center but Thursday morning, his closest rival Adam Jala, the congressman’s son, grabbed the lead and finally posted a winning margin of 2,975 over the former governor.

Jala garnered a total votes of 65,081 over Relampagos’ 62,106 from the 19 towns or 1,144 total number of precincts in the third district.

“I was cheated and I won’t just sit and allow cheaters to prevail over the true will of the people,” Relampagos told the STANDARD in an exclusive interview yesterday.

His lawyers are now studying their legal options to contest the electoral results which Relampagos said was a typical work of “dag-dag bawas experts.”

During the canvas of the results from the 47 towns and Tagbilaran City made by the Provincial Board of Canvassers, the camp of Relampagos questioned the PBC composition and alleged ‘tampered’ results from the towns of Loay and Sierra Bullones which could spell the winning difference between him and Jala.

The PBC was composed of Comelec Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Vernie Petalcorin, DepEd Division Supt. Cerina Bolos and Provincial Prosecutor Mario Delusa.

Various issues were raised by the lawyers of Relampagos who branded the proceedings as typical of the shameful congressional hearings as the board of canvassers went on tabulating the questionable poll results.

“Our petition that the canvass be stopped was ignored and our protests were simply put on record as ‘noted’,” Relampagos lamented.

Relampagos cited Sierra Bullones results which totaled 3,956 votes for Jala but when it was submitted to the provincial board of canvassers (PBC) the figure allegedly ballooned into 4,568.

Loay was also allegedly manipulated by the dagdag-bawas experts.

“I had a comfortable lead over Jala of 2,306 but at the PBC, the lead was sliced to just 800 votes,” Relampagos confided to the STANDARD.

“I am thankful of the results particularly to those who supported me, but I won’t allow cheaters to go scot-free,” the former governor vowed as he intends to file an election protest, possibly at the Lower House Electoral Tribunal this week.

In an earlier press statement, Relampagos feared for possible ballot switching after a source informed him that the incumbent congressman allegedly was able to secure ‘blank official ballots’ from the Comelec, a laid-out plan in the eventuality of a small margin going in his favor.

JALA STATEMENT

Outgoing congressman Eladio “Boy” Jala, when asked for his comments over the Relampagos’ allegations, said he cannot blame the former governor because of the slim margin.

“But everything is according to God’s plan. The Almighty may have other good things for Rene. He should not prolong the pain. I would say we all must simply submit to the electorate’ will,” the outgoing congressman said.

The newly elected 28-year old third district congressman Atty. Adam Relson Lagrada Jala was out Saturday morning attending baptismal rites of a friend’s child.

“Looking the other way, if the election results turned out against Adam, me and my family were already prepared to accept such fate. In my personal life, I had also some losing times and I took it gladly,” Rep. Boy Jala said.

Meanwhile, the two other congressional bets, BM Dionisio Balite pooled only a total of 28,0076 while publisher and lawyer Alexander Lim had 16,737 votes.

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