THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a summon to Mandaue City Mayor-elect Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano, in relation to an election protest filed by former mayor Jonas Cortes over results of the May 12, 2025 local elections.
The summons, dated May 23, was issued by Comelec’s Electoral Contests Adjudication Department (Ecad). It officially notified Ouano that Cortes had filed a verified protest against his proclamation.
The Comelec directive ordered Ouano to submit a verified answer to the protest within five non-extendible days from receipt of the summons.
The media first learned of the summons on Monday, June 2, and sought verification from outgoing City Administrator Jamaal James Calipayan.
“The protest was not dismissed by the Comelec based on technicalities. We are glad because the party (Ouano) was asked to respond to the filed case. Hopefully, we will also receive their response,” Calipayan told reporters.
Under Comelec rules, Ouano must submit four hard copies of his response one of which must be the original along with all supporting annexes and evidences.
The filing must be made directly to the Ecad office on the 8th floor of Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila.
The summons also said if Ouano includes a counter-protest in his response, it will be subject to the appropriate legal fees. He must also furnish Cortes and his legal counsel with a copy of the counter-protest, if ever.
Ouano’s transition team said they have yet to receive any official document from Comelec.
“We have not seen the summons yet and have not heard of it,” said incoming city administrator Gonzalo Malig-on in a separate statement.
Cortes’ protest, as previously reported, alleged widespread electoral fraud and irregularities in several clustered precincts in Mandaue.
His legal team cited anomalies in precincts where the number of valid votes allegedly exceeded the number of registered voters or those who actually voted.
“Fraud”
The protest cited both intrinsic fraud, referring to possible electronic manipulation in the vote-counting process, and extrinsic fraud, related to alleged misconduct in the conduct of the election.
Among the reliefs Cortes has sought from the Comelec is a manual recount of ballots from all 271 clustered precincts in the city.
If granted, the cost of the recount will be shouldered by the protestant, Cortes.
Calipayan said their protest is not meant to obstruct the process, but to clarify the legitimacy of the results.
“If Mayor Jonas loses in the manual recount, he will accept it. But if he wins, there is also a process for that,” he said.
He added that the protest will either affirm the credibility of the elections or expose flaws that must be corrected.
Calipayan urged Mandauehanons to remain calm and to respect the legal process.
Cortes, in a previous statement, maintained that his protest is not motivated by personal grievances.
He said the move is a legal recourse to protect the integrity of the vote, not only for the present but for future elections. / CAV