Mt. Province politics: Recount of Dalog-Dominguez votes to determine real winner

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The House Electoral Tribunal has set the fourth week of August to recount votes relative to the latest congressional race in Mountain Province and come up with a decision as soon as possible on who is the real winner.

This, after congressional aspirant Jupiter Dominguez filed a petition with the HRET alleging irregular transmission, illegal counting and canvassing of votes in the May 2010 elections.

The May 2010 elections registered Dominguez second place with 23,973 votes less 751 of congressman-proclaimed Dalog’s 24,724 votes.

Ballots from the 219 precincts stored in 10 Comelec offices of Mountain Province were collected June this year and scheduled for counting among many electoral petitions which reached the HRET.

Quezon city-based lawyer Roque Bello is the counsel of Mountain Province Rep. MaximoDalog in said electoral case.

Meantime, Roque Bello was implicated in the controversial 2004 electoral fraud which allegedly placed Gloria Arroyo as president of the Philippines, the scandal forwarded for a House probe by Bayan Muna Representatives Teodoro Casiño and NeriColmenares.