VIRAC, Catanduanes — The Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Virac, Catanduanes has dismissed the election protest filed by Joshua Chino O. Cua against the winning candidates for the position of Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) members of Virac in the May 12, 2025 elections.
In a decision issued on October 13, 2025, Acting Presiding Judge Ritche R. Regala ruled that Cua failed to prove a “substantial recovery” of votes as required under A.M. No. 10-4-1-SC, or the 2022 Interim Amendments to the Rules of Procedure for Municipal Election Contests.
Cua, who garnered 17,163 votes and placed 10th overall, filed the protest against Alexander S. Abundo, who obtained 19,086 votes—the eighth and last winning councilor—with a margin of 1,923 votes.
However, based on the recount of the designated pilot clustered precincts, Cua recovered only 12 additional votes, far below the required 20 percent recovery, or 385 votes, needed to proceed with a full recount of all precincts.
“The protestant failed to establish his case. There was no substantial recovery of votes in the precincts he himself designated,” the decision stated, emphasizing that election results should only be overturned in “extreme cases of fraud” that seriously compromise the integrity of the elections.
According to the court’s report, four revision committees conducted a physical recount of the ballots, verifying and validating their authenticity. In total, five ballots were credited to Cua, while four ballots were added to Abundo’s count. Several other ballots were rejected due to overvoting or unclear markings.
“The continued litigation of this case may obstruct the true will of the electorate and open the floodgates to endless protests by losing candidates,” the court further noted.
As a result, the RTC officially dismissed Cua’s election protest and directed the Clerk of Court to refund any unused deposits after the case’s closure.
The proclamation of the eight duly elected councilors of Virac remains valid and effective. They are: Hazel Isidoro, Fredeswindo Gianan Jr., Joseph Mendoza, Anthony Arcilla, Angelo Piolo Laynes, Ariel Molina, Rafael Zuniega, and Alexander Abundo.
| Report by FB | Bicol Peryodiko |
