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Friday, August 08, 2003
Almendras dares Cataluņa: Let's undergo lie test
By Aurea A. Gerundio
ALTHOUGH she was already declared the 8th councilor representing Davao City's First District, lawyer and former councilor Clemencia "Menchie" Cataluņa is not in a hurry. She said she is still waiting for the Comelec en banc's final decision on the matter.
But this early, Councilor Alexis Almendras, whose proclamation was nullified by the Comelec's Second Division, challenged Cataluņa to subject themselves to a lie detector test just to find out who between them cheated in the real results of the Comelec recount.
The two parties are holding documents purportedly coming from Comelec's Second Division, stating each won in the elections.
"I did not cheat in the election. I have nothing to gain by lying. Para mahibal-an gyud kinsa sa amoa nagsulti ug tinuod, dungan mi magpa-lie detector test (So it will be known who is telling the truth, we'll take the lie-detector test together)," Almendras said.
After a recount, Cataluņa won by 301 votes, garnering a total valid votes of 55,704 as against Almendras' 55,403.
Almendras showed reporters Thursday a 121-page document stating he won during the last elections.
He claimed he received the document in February, signed by Comelec commissioners Mehol Sadain and Florentino Tuason.
The presiding commissioner Ralph Lantion has yet to sign the said document.
"One of the commissioners (referring to Lantion) who did not sign the document is a friend of the Cataluņas," Almendras claimed, without elaborating.
Almendras earlier claimed he won the elections and was in fact informed about it three months ago, except that Cataluņa's husband (Col. Josefino "Jake" Cataluņa) interceded.
Almendras requested reporters to keep other details of the 121-page "partial" decision of the Comelec, per advised by his lawyer.
Almendras confirmed there were settlements made with Cataluņa regarding the issue three times. The settlement allegedly involved money that Almendras refused to divulge.
But Almendras claimed he has pieces of evidence to support his claims.
"First meeting was at a Japanese restaurant near the airport, second was in Cebu, and third was here. But, the last time I saw her, Menchie told me that I better talk to her lawyer," he said.
"In due time, I'll tell you everything. Huwag muna ngayon. I am just following the advice of my lawyer," Almendras said.
The Comelec's Second Division in Manila declared Cataluņa as the 8th City Councilor for the first district and likewise nullified the proclamation of Almendras.
The promulgation was made August 5, at 10 a.m. in Comelec, Manila.
The 120-page decision was signed by presiding commissioner Ralph Lantion on January 13, 2003 declaring Cataluņa as the winner with 55,704 total valid votes obtained over the 55,403 votes for Almendras, or just 301 votes.
"How can a unanimous decision be overturned as what Almendras claimed?" Cataluņa asked reporters.
"I was present in all the hearings. I never saw him (Almendras) even once," Cataluņa said, adding that Almendras had been delaying the case for almost a year.
Cataluņa said she pushed the case to find out what really happened, whether she was cheated during last elections.
"I know the futility of filing a case, but I want to show my experience to different people to put an end to this fraudulent person acting as councilor when in fact he is not," she said.
Cataluņa denied there was any settlement between both parties.
"There was never a settlement anywhere. Not even in the stars and the moon because you do not settle your principles," she said.
Cataluņa revealed there were several instances of harassment when she filed the protest. But she tried to keep from the media, saying that she might have not been believed.
Cataluņa said results from 40 ballot boxes were recounted out of 99 ballot boxes.
"In every box, there was an average of 41 padded votes sa kanya (Almendras)," she said.
Cataluņa said she has yet to decide whether she will take over Almendras post if the final decision favors her.
"I will answer at the time. We will just wait for the final decision," she added.
Meanwhile, the legal counsel of Almendras filed motions for reconsideration and investigation of the "biased" decision in Manila last Thursday.
Almendras said he would step down from his post as soon as the final decision will be clarified.
"Mao na lang ni'y awayan namo? Maayo unta kung mayorship ang among giilugan na puwesto. One thing, ngano muingon man siya (Cataluņa) nga gitikasan nako siya? Dili lang man siya ang akong kalaban sa pagka-councilor. Daghan mi naglabu-labo ana nga posisyon (This is the only thing we're fighting for? It would have been good if we were fighting for the mayorship. One thing, why will she say that I cheated her? She's not the only one I ran against for councilor)," he said.
(August 8, 2003 issue)
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