Comelec declares ‘winner’ of 2022 Cotabato mayoral race – BusinessWorld Online
COTABATO CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has declared lawyer Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi as reelected mayor in this city during the May 2022 local elections.
Ms. Guiani-Sayadi first announced Comelec’s ruling on Facebook on Wednesday night, declaring her as the winner, not Mohammad Dela Cruz Matabalao.
Mr. Matabalao, proclaimed then as elected mayor, confirmed receiving a copy of the Comelec decision on Thursday.
He, however, pointed out that he will remain as mayor since the ruling is not yet final and executory.
Mr. Matabalao said they will exhaust all legal means to contest Comelec’s decision on the electoral protest filed against him.
“We will file a motion for reconsideration. That ruling did not order me to step down and relinquish my post to anybody,” he said.
Ms. Guiani-Sayadi had sought a recount of the votes from a number of polling precincts where Mr. Matabalao reportedly garnered a big vote-lead, following his proclamation.
“I have not perpetrated any electoral fraud during the May 2022 elections,” Mr. Matabalao said. — John Felix M. Unson