Friday, May 25, 2007 Vote canvassing flaws merely typo errors By Carlo P. Mallo
THE legal counsels of the opposition and administration candidates believe that the inconsistencies reported by the Board of Canvassers (BOC) in Davao City were merely clerical errors.
BOC chair, lawyer Irma Vera Morcillo, cried foul over allegations that they are simply making "clerical errors" as an excuse over an alleged foiled vote-padding attempt in the city.
Lawyer Belen Salespara-Carasig, of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) central law office, said the mere fact that the board itself reported the discrepancies and, in itself, initiated a recount would show their good faith.
Carasig said the canvassing body in the city rectified the clerical errors "moto propio" or by itself.
Moreover, Morcillo decried allegations made by a television network that the BOC in Davao City were trying to cover up for an alleged foiled vote-padding for Team Unity bets.
She said it was unfair for the news outfit to imply that actual vote-padding did happen in the city when they have not even known the full story.
Carasig instead asked for the affidavits of the tabulators who committed the lapse. She said this would be necessary for the tabulation to be free of questions when brought to the national tabulation in Manila.
Morcillo said the tabulators involved in the lapse were all relieved from their duties and have been replaced by a new set. Counting in the city was officially wrapped up Thursday.
In an interview late Wednesday night, the legal counsels of the senatorial candidates said they have full confidence that the BOC in the city has tabulated the results as they are.
