“The truth hurts.”
That was the answer of mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez on Wednesday, May 11, to the statement of Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia that the vote count that showed his opponent won, especially in areas they consider their bailiwicks, was “simply mysterious and unbelievable.”
Benitez garnered 171,893 votes, while Leonardia had 107,447 votes in Monday’s polls.
“For now, we will leave the matter with our legal team. It will be up to the lawyers to study and look into possible legal remedies so that we can have the vote counting machines rechecked to satisfy the questions raised by the Grupo Progreso slate and all our supporters,” Leonardia said.
“It is their prerogative to do whatever they want,” Benitez said in response.
Benitez said during the campaign he already knew they were on the winning side by the overwhelming response of the people.
“Hopefully we can do away with politics since the elections are over and buckle down and get to work,” Benitez said.
Benitez has asked Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya to head their interim transition team so they can hit the ground running when they assume office.
“The truth will set you free, but first, it will make you miserable,” Bong Dilag, spokesman of Benitez, also said in response to Leonardia’s statement on Tuesday.
In the spirit of reconciliation, they extend their heartfelt empathy to Leonardia, whose “May 2022 electoral debacle appears to have left him reeling in shock and awe”, Dilag said in a statement.
Such decisive and conclusive mayoralty election result, must have made Leonardia “dizzy and defensively reduced and cornered in a state of denial”, he said.
“Indeed, it is a bitter pill to swallow. This, we must patiently try to understand,” Dilag said, adding that they refuse to stoop down to the level of childish, if not gutter politics.
They also do not intend to needlessly belabor the malicious, false, and baseless allegations raised by the incumbent mayor, Dilag said.
“The allegations are a stretch of imagination… undeserving of serious consideration, time, and space,” he said.
It is crystal clear that Benitez successfully presented his plans and programs according to his vision and set of values that had strongly resonated with the Bacolodnons who have long hoped for change, Dilag said.
The content of the statement of Leonardia which “essentially branded us, by way of implication, as cheaters and liars cheapens the voice, hope, and aspirations of Bacolodnons and their constitutionally protected right to select their leaders”, Dilag added.
“We respect the incumbent mayor’s democratic right to avail of whatever remedies the law may afford him as we similarly intend to vigorously raise our own issues in the proper forum,” he said.
The results of the election is not a mystery as claimed by Leonardia, 171,893 Bacolodnons gave Benitez their vote of trust, confidence, and mandate, he said.
“The voice of the people couldn’t be any clearer than that. The truth is painful, it hurts…in this case, 171,893 times,” Dilag said.
They believe there was an irregularity in the vote count, Leonardia said, citing the manner of treating the casting of votes and the unusual and questionable malfunctioning of a number vote counting machines.
He also questioned the credibility and accuracy of the electronic transmission and delivery of the vote results from the precincts to the Commission on Elections canvassing center.
Negros Occidental provincial elections supervisor, Roberto Salazar, said the Comelec stands by the results of Monday’s polls in Bacolod City.
“He who alleges must prove the allegations”, Salazar said.
They can compare the results in their copies of the election returns per precinct with the transmitted results, Salazar added.*