Panlilio appeals ouster by Comelec

By George Trillo

Ousted Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio Wednesday sought reconsideration of the Commission on Elections ruling nullifying his 2007 victory.

In a 30-page motion, Panlilio urged the Comelec to set aside and not immediately execute the ruling declaring his rival, Lilia Pineda, the duly elected governor of Pampanga.

While claiming that he was not surprised by the verdict of the Comelec Second Division ruling favoring Pineda, Panlilio said the decision was erroneous and must therefore be rectified.

“In its 11,685-page decision, the Second Division rejected all the ballots where the name that was clearly written, placed, entered and filled out was ‘Among’ only,” Panlilio said.

“The erroneously rejected votes, more or less 2,496, are more than enough to overturn (Pineda’s) win,” he added.

He said the 2,496 ballots were ruled as stray ballots and thus were not counted and credited to him.