P’panga gov vote recount nixed

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga– The chief legal counsel of Gov. Ed Panlilio challenged last week the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to “admit” it has no more time for a vote recount in the 2007 gubernatorial race so as “not to give the people false hopes.”

This, as lawyer Romulo Macalintal, in a text message, said the Supreme Court rendered a “pro-rich” verdict in finally allowing the recount.

But he said he remains convinced the recount would be overtaken by preparations for next year’s polls.

Macalintal said he was surprised over the SC’s “failure” to first seek the comment of the governor’s political opponent, Lilia Pineda, before ruling on Panlilio’s motion for reconsideration.

Alleging anomalies, Pineda filed the electoral protest in July 2007 after she lost by 1,147 votes to Panlilio.

The Comelec’s second division favored her petition and ordered the transfer of ballots cast in 4,847 polling precincts in Pampanga for the recount in Manila.