Ibinasura na ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division ang electoral protest na isinampa ni Atty. Alexander Lopez laban kay Manila Mayor Maria Sheilah "Honey" Lacuna-Pangan.
Bunsod anila ito ng pagiging ‘insufficient in form and content’ ng protesta o kawalan ng sapat at kapani-paniwalang ebidensya na susuporta sa alegasyon.
Batay sa pitong pahinang desisyon ng Comelec Second Division, na naisapubliko nitong Sabado, inihayag ng poll body na, “the alleged documented massive acts of vote buying… are also bare assertions uncorroborated by any other proof, whether testimonial or documentary”.
Matatandaang si Lacuna ay nagkamit ng landslide victory matapos na makakuha ng 538, 595 boto noong May 9 mayoral polls kumpara sa 166, 908 boto lamang na nakuha ni Lopez.
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Sa kanyang panig, laking pasalamat naman ni Lacuna sa naging desisyon ng poll body at nagpahayag ng pag-asa na matatapos na ang naturang isyu.
“While it is Mr. Lopez' right to file a protest as he sees fit, the reality is that the people of the City of Manila have overwhelmingly expressed and placed their support for the current, duly elected city administration.All the voters in our city deserve to have their collective choice recognized and given due course for the remainder of the incumbent's term,” pahayag pa ni Lacuna nitong Sabado.
“Furthermore, we are grateful that the Comelec Second Division has also recognized, and ruled accordingly, that these allegations of electoral fraud, irregularities, and anomalies remain just that:allegations that have no actual proof; no evidence has been found to support any of these claims,” dagdag pa niya.
Sinabi rin ng alkalde na panahon na para sa lahat na may kaugnayan sa nasabing protesta na bumalik na sa kani-kanilang trabaho upang tulungan ang mga Manilenyo, na nahaharap sa iba’t ibang suliranin na may kinalaman sa kanilang kabuhayan.
“I strongly suggest that Mr. Lopez does the same thing in his present capacity,” anang alkalde.
