CEBU CITY – The House of Representative Electoral Tribunal (HRET) has reaffirmed the victory of Cebu Fifth District Rep. Vincent Franco ‘Duke’ Frasco after winning in the manual recount of the ballots. The decision was released on Friday, three days before yet another election.
The manual recount was done on an electoral protest filed on July 15, 2019 by Red Durano, whom Frasco defeated in the 2019 elections.
Frasco said he is happy with the results, saying it shows that the people of the fifth district in the 2019 elections really wanted change as reflected in the results.
Frasco won by a margin of over 35,000 votes over Durano.
"Over the past two years we have delivered on our promise of change in the district through the implementation of our projects and programs that have uplifted the lives of the people of the 5th district of Cebu," said Frasco.
In the five-day physical count, Frasco got 35,978 votes, higher by 217 votes of the total 35,761 votes based on election returns and statement of votes.
The recount was conducted on November 23, 24, 25, 29 and December 1, 2021.
In the May 2019 elections, Frasco was proclaimed winner with a total of 152,436 votes or 56.61 percent. Durano got 116,826 votes or 43.38 percent in the entire fifth district.
Frasco is seeking reelection against Durano on May 9 in a grudge rematch of the 2019 elections.