TALISAY City Mayor Neil Lizares said last night that he won the recount conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division completed on Wednesday.
Lizares said in a telephone interview that he was informed by his lawyer in Manila in a phone call that in the 20 ballot boxes subject to the protest of his opponent Shiela Saratan, he won by 1,425 votes. The latter is the spouse of former mayor Eric Saratan, the predecessor of Lizares.
“This only showed how accurate the vote counting machines are,” said Lizares, whose counsel in the recount is Gregorio Larrazabal, a former elections commissioner.
He added that the Comelec First Division will come out with the official decision soon.
Lizares said it is now time for Talisay to move on after the recount of votes was completed and re-affirmed his victory in the May 9 elections.
“I’m happy and I have the peace of mind that the protest is over and the election result was accurate and showed the real sentiments of the people of Talisay,” the mayor added.
Lizares said they fought fare and square and his conscience is clear from any doubts.
Lizares said he had just arrived in the province from a meeting of the League of Cities of the Philippines in Manila when he was informed by his lawyer about the result.
