Comelec dismisses election protest filed by ex-DENR secretary vs Manila mayor By Pat C. Santos 09/16/2011

Comelec dismisses election protest filed by ex-DENR secretary vs Manila mayor

By Pat C. Santos 09/16/2011
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed the election protest filed by former DENR Secretary Joselito Atienza Jr. against Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim on the contested mayoralty position last May 2010 election.

Lim’s chief of staff and media bureau chief Ric de Guzman said the dismissal dated Sept. 13 is contained in a 19-page order issued by the Comelec’s First Division duly signed by Presiding Commissioner Rene Sarmiento and Commissioners Armando Velasco and Christian Robert Lim, a copy of which was furnished city hall yesterday.

The Comelec, in dismissing the protest without further proceedings, stated that: “All told, we find that protestant (Atienza) has failed to establish the merit or legitimacy of his election protest from his pinpointed pilot clustered precincts. We find no more need to proceed with the recount of the rest of his protested clustered precincts.

The order further stated that even if the commission accepts Atienza’s submission in its entirety, he is still unable to overcome the lead of Lim..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110916met3.html