ORMOC CITY – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has dismissed the election protest filed by Ma. Cassandra T. Codilla against Ormoc City Councilor Lalaine A. Marcos, stated the order attached to the copies of a certificate of finality issued by the Division Clerk of Court and the two (2) entries of judgment issued by the Clerk of Court of said Commission, Electoral Contests Adjudication Department, both dated March 5, 2025, in the subject case.
On the said entry of judgment, the COMELEC certifies that on January 23, 2025, the Commission’s First Division issued an order pertaining to the said case, wherein the pertinent portion reads that Codilla failed to show reasonable recovery of votes in her designated pilot protested precincts, as it appears that the lead of the protestee was reduced by merely twenty-two (22) votes, or from 9,368 to 9,346 votes.
On the one hand, it was on March 5, 2025 that the Division Clerk of Court, Atty. Allen Francis B. Abaya, issued the Certificate of Finality declaring the said Order as final and executory, for it was certified that no motion for reconsideration was filed within the prescribed period under COMELEC rules; and that the same has been recorded in the Book of Entries of Judgment, ending the lawsuit without any further legal action. As such, in essence, upholding Marcos’ electoral triumph in the election of 2022. (By Gwen Maurillo / EV Mail March 17-23, 2025 issue)
