Retired justice wants Taguig mayor cited for contempt

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

RETIRED associate justice Dante Tinga wanted Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano cited for contempt for repeatedly thwarting efforts by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to start the recount proceedings in Taguig City.

In a phone interview, Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento confirmed that the camp of Tinga already filed a motion to cite Cayetano's camp in contempt.

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On Monday, the Comelec again failed to retrieve the ballot boxes from the Taguig City Hall after it was barricaded anew by supporters of Cayetano.

This happened despite an order of the commission en banc to already begin the recount proceedings in the Taguig mayoral race during the 2010 polls.

Cayetano beat Tinga during the May 10, 2010 mayoral race by a slim margin of 2,420 votes, which prompted the retired Supreme Court magistrate to protest the election results with Comelec.

The Comelec en banc discussed Tuesday the matter during its regular meeting.

Sarmiento said the continued failure to start the recount has dismayed the poll body.

"Sabihin natin it is one disappointment (It was a disappointment)," he said.

He said the Comelec will again try to retrieve the 43 ballot boxes today (Wednesday) with the help of the police. (AMN/Sunnex)