|
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Ballot boxes in poll protest brought to SC
MANILA -- The Supreme Court, sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, received Monday 53 ballot boxes from the House of Representatives in line with the recount of election returns that were cited in an election protest filed by defeated vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda.
The so-called "spoiled ballots" would not be opened until the court issues another order, SC administrator Ismael Khan Jr. said.
The boxes arrived at the SC grounds at 2 p.m. Monday, brought by Congress personnel. These were tightly secured at the session hall of the old Supreme Court building fronting Taft Avenue.
"They're (ballot boxes) here for safekeeping under the official custody of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal. But as for the counting, appointment of revisers and all that, they're awaiting the guidelines," Khan said.
The guidelines for the recounting of the results of the vice presidential race, he added, will be patterned after the rules adopted by the tribunal when it dealt with the electoral protest of then presidential candidate Miriam Defensor-Santiago against her rival, former President Fidel Ramos.
"There are going to be new guidelines. They are going to revise these rules. The last revision was in 1992. It's just a matter of revision. When the whole process starts, it will be based on guidelines approved by the PET," Khan said.
The ballot boxes so far retrieved are those under the custody of Congress, which former senator Legarda claimed would "manifest errors" and form the first aspect of her election protest against Vice President Noli de Castro.
The 53 ballot boxes are among some 200 boxes allegedly containing fraudulent election returns and certificates of canvass (COCs) from the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Surigao del Sur.
Legarda had made an initial payment of P4 million with the tribunal to jumpstart the recount and re-tabulation of votes cast in the vice presidential race. (ECV/Sunnex)
(September 27, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Bank robbed anew; police note 'lapses'