VIRAC, CATANDUANES — The political temperature in Catanduanes continues to rise as Vice Governor Peter “Boss Te” Cua filed a Petition for Recount against Governor-Elect Dr. Patrick Azanza before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on May 22, 2025.
In the petition, Cua’s camp raised serious concerns over alleged irregularities in the recently concluded gubernatorial race, where Azanza—former President of Catanduanes State University—was proclaimed winner by a margin of only over 300 votes.
The petition claims that more than 12,000 votes from 11 towns in the province were reportedly not included in the official canvass, equivalent to over 7% of the total registered voters in Catanduanes. Cua’s legal team argues that such a significant number could have drastically altered the election outcome.
According to reports from various precincts, thousands of ballots were recorded as cast but were not reflected in the final tally. More alarmingly, in some areas, the number of counted ballots even exceeded the number of actual voters, with discrepancies reaching over 200 ballots in certain precincts.
“The number of ballots counted does not match the number of actual voters. This is a serious indication of possible irregularities in the canvassing that led to the proclamation of Dr. Azanza,” the petition reads.
Further irregularities cited in the petition include:
- San Andres (Catagbacan): More physical ballots were found than what was recorded by the vote-counting machines (VCMs), suggesting a possible machine malfunction or deliberate manipulation.
- Viga: Transmission of results to the local Board of Canvassers was delayed due to a wrong IP address, even though the precincts had reportedly submitted results.
- COMELEC Media Server: According to server logs, nearly 2,000 votes were suddenly deducted from Cua’s total during the canvassing process.
Because of these issues, Cua’s team is calling for an immediate recount to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
It may be recalled that in an interview with Radyo Peryodiko, Atty. Maria Juana Valeza explained that under the law, any interested individual may file an election protest within ten days after the elections, but it must be backed by strong evidence for COMELEC to take action.
In a public statement, Vice Governor Cua clarified that the petition is not a protest, but rather the exercise of a constitutional right and duty to preserve the integrity of democracy.
“We cannot simply turn a blind eye to the discrepancies that our legal team has uncovered,” said Cua.
Nonetheless, he called on his supporters to respect and support Dr. Patrick Azanza as the incoming governor-elect while the legal process takes its course.
“While this legal process unfolds, it is proper that we support Dr. Patrick Azanza as governor-elect,” he added.
In closing, the vice governor reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law:
“Whatever the outcome of this petition may be after COMELEC’s review and resolution, we will accept it with no reservations.”
As the COMELEC begins to review the petition, the people of Catanduanes are anxiously awaiting answers—calling for truth, transparency, and accountability in one of the most hotly contested elections in the province’s history.
As of press time, Governor-Elect Patrick Azanza has yet to issue an official statement regarding the petition. Report by Bicol Peryodiko NewsTeam)
