OUTGOING Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella said he cannot concede the mayoral race to proclaimed winner Evelio Leonardia as his camp is studying the possibility of filing an electoral protest.
The decision will be known on Friday whether they will file an election protest, he said.
Leonardia garnered 120,231 votes against Puentevella’s 97,993, with a margin of 22,238 votes.
Puentevella said over Bombo Radyo Bacolod Monday that his camp doubts the credibility of the poll results.
He added that his legal team and Pamilya MKK candidates met and discussed the action that they will be taking.
The matter should be decided collectively by the MKK candidates, he said.
Puentevella added that their congressional candidate Jude Thaddeus Sayson and vice mayoralty bet Vladimir Gonzalez also questioned the credibility of the results.
They have in mind that something wrong happened that has affected the overall results of the election, he said.
He added that even his son re-elected Councilor Claudio Puentevella could not believe that he landed 11th in the City Council race, from seventh in 2013.
A day after the elections, City Election Officer Mavil Majarucon-Sia, chairperson of the City Board of Canvassers, proclaimed Group Progreso candidates Leonardia and Councilor El Cid Familiaran as winners for mayor and vice mayor, respectively.
Familiaran had 108, 360 votes, defeating businessman Vladimir Gonzalez, with only 86,611 votes.
For congressman, Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya, also of Grupo Progreso, garnered 85,467 votes against his closest rival former vice mayor Sayson, who got 84, 431.
Proclaimed winners for councilors, according to rank, were Ricardo Tan, Caesar Distrito, Cindy Rojas, Renecito Novero, Em Ang, Elmer Sy, Ana Marie Palermo, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Dindo Ramos, Bartolome Orola, Claudio Puentevella, and Sonya Verdeflor.
Verdeflor after their proclamation said: “Now that the campaign period, and the presidential and local elections are over, with the Bacolodnons having elected its new set of officials, it is my fervent hope that we all unite towards a common goal and direction for the best interest of our city and our people.”
For his part, Gonzalez said in his Facebook account: “When you have done your best, there is nothing to regret. God must have some other plans for us.”