Durano’s lawyer: Protest against Frasco not yet over
Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said the election protest filed by former Fifth District representative Ramon “Red” Durano VI against Rep. Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco has not yet reached its end.
Larrazabal, who stands as lawyer of Durano, issued the statement following the claim of Frasco that he won in the initial recount conducted by the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal where the case is still pending.
Larrazabal, in a statement, said that to claim that the votes cast for Frasco increased further the lead and won against Durano is misleading.
On the contrary, Larrazabal said that Durano is gaining votes due to manual counting notwithstanding that there were wet ballots that are yet to be counted when the HRET decrypts the ballots or uses the digital images of the ballots.
Frasco, in a separate statement, has reaffirmed his victory in the 2019 elections based on the outcome of the manual recount conducted by HRET.
Frasco had said that he was happy with the outcome of the manual recount, which showed that voters in his district were looking for change during that election.
“It is too early to conclude at this stage of the election protest/revision. Let us await the official Order from the HRET. Do not spread fake news, respect the process. Respect the Tribunal,” Larrazabal added.
In the 2019 elections, Frasco was declared winner after he garnered 152,436 votes against Durano’s 116,826 votes.
The aggrieved Durano filed an electoral protest before the HRET in July of 2019 and called for a manual recount of the votes cast in the entire district.
There will be rematch as Frasco is seeking his second term against Durano in the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections.
Durano’s brother, Joseph Felix Mari “Ace” Durano, is also running for governor against Frasco’s mother-in-law, incumbent Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
The Durano brothers are the sons of Danao City Mayor Ramon "Nito" D. Durano III. —