Palawan mayoral bet who lost via coin toss in May 2019 polls finally declared winner
By Aira Genesa Magdayao
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan - Noel Beronio is expected to officially take his office as mayor of Araceli town in this province after the Regional Trial Court Branch 164 released its decision, declaring him winner in the May local elections over Sue Cudilla, who had previously been declared winner by virtue of a coin toss.
(Noel Beronio / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a court decision promulgated on Tuesday by Regional Trial Court Branch 164 presiding Judge Anna Lea Tiongson-Mendoza, Beronio earned 3,502 votes, while Cudilla got 3,498 votes according to the result of the manual recount of election returns.
In 2019 elections, the municipal board of canvassers had ordered a toss coin after Cudilla and Beronio got the same number of 3,496 votes.
After Cudilla was declared winner, Beronio filed the election protest, contending that there were alleged anomalies in the reading of votes from some ballot boxes.
“In an election protest, the winner shall be the candidate the plurality of the valid votes cast,” the decision said.
According to the decision, recounted ballots from barangays of Dalayawan and Taluto were those not counted by the vote counting machine.
“The VCM did not read the ballot boxes from Barangay Taluto while ballots in Dalayawan did not release a receipt of voted mayor. We appealed to court almost eight months ago including the evidences from two barangays,” Beronio said.
He said they have already submitted a motion for execution for official assumption as local chief executive.
Beronio also said that he will respect if Cudilla will also file an appeal.
“We already submitted a motion for execution and we are expecting to assume office next week but it still depends to the decision of court. If she will file an appeal, it's okay, we will respect that because she has a right,” he added.
The Manila Bulletin tried to get Cudilla’s response, but she failed to answer back.
Araceli is one of the 23 municipalities of Palawan and has 13 barangays.
(Noel Beronio / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a court decision promulgated on Tuesday by Regional Trial Court Branch 164 presiding Judge Anna Lea Tiongson-Mendoza, Beronio earned 3,502 votes, while Cudilla got 3,498 votes according to the result of the manual recount of election returns.
In 2019 elections, the municipal board of canvassers had ordered a toss coin after Cudilla and Beronio got the same number of 3,496 votes.
After Cudilla was declared winner, Beronio filed the election protest, contending that there were alleged anomalies in the reading of votes from some ballot boxes.
“In an election protest, the winner shall be the candidate the plurality of the valid votes cast,” the decision said.
According to the decision, recounted ballots from barangays of Dalayawan and Taluto were those not counted by the vote counting machine.
“The VCM did not read the ballot boxes from Barangay Taluto while ballots in Dalayawan did not release a receipt of voted mayor. We appealed to court almost eight months ago including the evidences from two barangays,” Beronio said.
He said they have already submitted a motion for execution for official assumption as local chief executive.
Beronio also said that he will respect if Cudilla will also file an appeal.
“We already submitted a motion for execution and we are expecting to assume office next week but it still depends to the decision of court. If she will file an appeal, it's okay, we will respect that because she has a right,” he added.
The Manila Bulletin tried to get Cudilla’s response, but she failed to answer back.
Araceli is one of the 23 municipalities of Palawan and has 13 barangays.