Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. today called for the relief of the director for Southern Mindanao of the Commission on Elections following reports that the official was involved in the padding and shaving of votes in Davao City and Davao del Sur.
Pimentel, whose son Aquilino III had earlier complained that his votes in the senatorial race in Davao City had been shaved by as many as 85,000 votes, said Comelec regional director Remlane Tambuang was involved in what he called “dagdag-bawas operation” in Davao City and Davao del Sur.
Pimentel alleged that Tambuang “instructed his subordinate officials to pad the votes for certain Team Unity senatorial candidates.”
According to our informant, Director Tambuang told his subordinate officials huwag siyang ipahiya (dont put him to shame) and do something for my list of TU candidates, Pimentel said in a statement.
Pimentel urged Comelec chairman Benjami Abalos to investigate Tambuang, particularly his alleged recent acquisition of a brand-new car.
According to Pimentel, the 85,000 votes had been illegally added to the tally of a TU senatorial bet in the congressional district of Rep. Prospero Nograles in Davao City. (davaotoday.com)
2007 Elections
