PET allows Comelec to copy CF cards for recount; Munti to be affected?

By Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net

First Posted 17:06:00 04/25/2011

MANILA, Philippines—The Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) allowed the Commission on Elections to (Comelec) to copy the compact flash (CF) cards used in the May 10, 2010 national and local elections for purposes of producing ballot images in case a recount is necessary in election protest.

In a two-page resolution, the high court sitting as PET granted the request of Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, the one who asked the authority to copy the CF cards.

Sarmiento made the request because the CF cards are now in the authority of PET in view of the election protest filed by defeated Vice-Presidential bet Mar Roxas against Vice-President Jejomar Binay. ”

The tribunal resolve to authorize the First Division Comelec to copy the CF cards used in the May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections in 5 election protest cases for purposes of producing the ballot images if need be,” the high court said.

Aside from Roxas’ election protest, these pending election protests include Antonio Gatuslao vs. Agustin Bascon (Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental; Pancrasio Nisce vs. Hermenigildo Gualberto (San Fernando City, La Union; Jaime Fresnedi vs. Aldrin San Pedro (Muntinlupa City); Marissa Rongavilla vs. Artemio Simundac (Vice Mayoral, Muntinlupa City) and Ferdinand Dysico vs. Jose Felimon (San Jose City, Nueva Ecija).

But the PET reminded the Comelec to indicate in its request the areas involved in the poll protest as well as the Election Protest Case Numbers and Case titles.

The resolution was concurred in by Chief justice Renato Corona and Associate Justices Conchita Carpio-Morales, Presbitero Velasco, Jr., Antonio Eduardo Nachura, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Lucas Bersamin, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama, Jr., Jose Portugal Perez, Jose Catral Mendoza and Ma. Lourdes Sereno.