By: Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Former mayor Joselito Malabor of Isabela, Negros Occidental said he will appeal the ruling of the Regional Trial Court here declaring incumbent Mayor Irene Montilla won the recount he sought after the May 13, 2019 elections.
Malabor said he will file the appeal with the Commission on Elections central office in Manila.
He said he has also informed the RTC court in La Carlota about the appeal.
La Carlota RTC Branch 74 Judge Mila D. Yap Camiso decided that “the proclamation of protestee, Irene C. Montilla as duly elected winning candidate for Mayor in the Municipality of Isabela, Negros Occidental, is hereby sustained and affirmed and the case is hereby dismissed for lack of merit.”
The result of the recount narrowed the earlier lead of Montilla over Malabor from 48 to 22 votes.
“As a right under the law the protestant can still file an appeal,” the decision said.
Montilla garnered 13,892 votes in the May 13 elections while Malabor got 13,844 votes.
