THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Bacolod City yesterday, May 28, clarified that it was really Jon Bryant Torre who won the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairmanship in Barangay Granada.
Torre was immediately proclaimed after besting opponent Christine Andrea Abao during the Barangay and SK Elections last May 14.
Abao, however, sought clarifications before the Comelec upon receiving a copy of the Statement of Votes (SOV) showing that she garnered a higher number of votes against Torre.
In the said SOV she obtained from Comelec-Bacolod on May 24, Abao has 1,098 votes while only 1,053 voted for Torre.
Abao, in an interview at the Negros Press Club yesterday, told SunStar Bacolod that she was shocked to see the copy of the document.
Although she already conceded to Torre immediately after the counting of votes, Abao said they just want to clarify the real results of the election.
"We do not have watchers, thus, we were not able to really keep track the vote standing. But for the sake of transparency, we are seeking clarifications," she said, adding that she has no issues with Torre since "we are even friends."
City Election Registrar Mavil Majarucon-Sia explained that the Barangay Board of Canvassers (BBOC) inadvertently transferred the "wrong" summary on the SOV.
Majarucon-Sia said the BBOC based the proclamation on the actual tally or results of the counting in all precincts where Torre really got the highest total votes.
"The canvassers really proclaimed the right winner. They admitted that they wrongly wrote the summary on the SOV," she said, adding that the BBOC already rectified the error and that the Comelec has already explained to Abao that she really lost to Torre.
Torre's win as the SK chairman of Barangay Granada can be supported by the election returns, Majarucon-Sia stressed.
For his part, Torre said he is not threatened by the "inadvertent fault" on the part of the BBOC which they have already inquired and clarified with the Comelec.
"We never committed any violation. Allegations of paying some teachers for our favor are not true," he said, adding that "it just hard for the opponent to accept defeat."