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Pagadian City – After more than 10 months since Tukuran mayoral candidate Nasser Mohammad Bandong filed his election protest on May 31, 2007, Presiding Judge Aniceto B. Galon, Jr., of Regional Trial Court Branch 20 finally declared his promulgation in favor of Bandong's opponent, Mayor Bonifacio Vega, Jr.
It was also found out during the course of the trial that there discrepancies in the number of votes tallied. As a result, Bandong lost only by 140 votes instead of the 1000 plus votes as was originally declared by COMELEC. Judge Galon’s decision of Election Protest Case No. 0003-2k7 was based from the consolidated results after deducting the admitted objections and adding the claimed ballots as offered by Bandong and Vega in their offer of evidences. It was gathered that there are a total of 140 votes in favor of Protestee Bonifacio C. Vega, Jr.
I am very happy that the protest I filed was finally decided and I would like to extend my thanks to Hon. Judge Galon for the early decision of the case. Once again, I would like to let the people know through you the people in the media that my intention of filing the election protest is only to know if there are really discrepancies that happened during the May 2007 national and local elections. I never claimed that I won though”, Nasser Bandong told the reporters in a press conference at his residence in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, a few hours after the reading of the promulgation of the case.  Nasser Mohammad Bandong explaining to the media (file photo) , Bandong disclosed. Bandong Plans to go After Teachers Involved in Election DiscrepanciesBandong is contemplating filing a case against those teachers who are involved in the anomalies during the conduct of last May 2007 election. “You are teachers, you should set an example in doing well and since some of you were involved in cheating, I will teach you a lesson that is why I am planning to file a case against you,” Bandong warned. During the recounting of ballots, it was learned that some ballots were identified as spurious or fake, written by one or two persons, and there were also marked ballots. “This is only a point of clarification, I respect the Judge's decision and I am just asking this question to Judge Galon, are there really discrepancies that happened during the conduct of Elections last year in Tukuran based on the evidence gathered? And if proven, what are the punishments?” Bandong asked. Judge Galon refused to comment when asked. Vega Very Contented Mayor Bonifacio Vega very contented in the decision. Mayor Bonifacio Vega on the other hand was very contented by the decision of Judge Galon favoring him as the winner in the election protest. “I am very much happy and contented on the early decision of the court, at least it was really confirmed that I am the duly elected Mayor of Tukuran,” Mayor Vega told the reporters a few minutes after the reading of the promulgation of the case. Bandong was given only five days to file his motion for reconsideration after the decision of the case but he is not yet disclosing his plans on the case as he is consulting with his lawyers. He is also ordered by the court to pay Vega for attorney's fees and cost of the litigation expenses. Here is the conclusive part of the Promulgation:
“Wherefore, after meticulously, painstakingly and judiciously taking into consideration all the evidence proffered by both the Protestant and the Protestee, the Court found that the Protestee Bonifacio C. Bega, Jr. has a remaining total votes of Five Thousand Two Hundred Twenty Seven (5,227) votes, while Protestant Nasser Mohammad Bandong has Five Thousand Eighty Seven (5,087) votes, thereby giving the Protestee a margin or lead of 140 votes over the Protestant, for which reason Protestee Bonifacio C. Vega, Jr. is hereby declared as the duly elected Mayor of the Municipality of Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur, with a plurality of the valid votes cast of One Hundred Forty (140) votes over Protestant Nasser Mohammad Bandong in the last May 2007 National and Local Elections.
The Protestant is hereby ordered to pay the following amount to the Protestee, as follows:
1. Seventy Five Thousand (Php 75,000.00) pesos as Attorney’s Fees; and
2. Twenty Five Thousand (Php 25,000.00) pesos as cost of the litigation expenses.
SO ORDERED
GIVEN IN CHAMBERS, this 25th day of April 2008 at Pagadian City, Philippines. Signed Aniceto B. Galon Presiding Judge,”
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