HRET dismisses poll protest vs Nueva Vizcaya lawmaker

SOLANA, Nueva Vizcaya — The House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) has declared as final and executory the dismissal of the election protest filed against Nueva Vizcaya lone district Rep. Luisa Banti Cuaresma.

In a letter sent to the lawyers of Cuaresma and Ruth Padilla, who filed the protest, HRET secretary Girlie Salarda said the decision was recorded in the entry of judgment of the tribunal last Jan. 29.

“Because... (Padilla) failed to overcome the winning margin of... (Cuaresma) after revision and appreciation of ballots were conducted in all the protested clustered precincts, the instant election protest is dismissed without further proceedings,” the decision read.

The HRET said no award of damages would be granted to Cuaresma “for failure to prove the nature, character and amount of damages incurred directly attributable to the protestant as a result of filing a demurrer of evidence.”

The HRET had earlier dismissed the motion for reconsideration filed by Padilla’s lawyers, Romulo Macalintal, Antonio Carlos Bautista and Ma. Jinel Macalintal-Bautista, for lack of merit.