“My supporters urged me to look into the clarity of the election law,” he told Variety.
He maintained that the Commonwealth Election Commission failed to conduct the elections on Rota in accordance with the law.
“They took the law in their hands,” he added. He didn’t elaborate.
Hocog said his decision to pursue the case is not a “matter of the numbers but the clarity of the law.”
He said the election commission did not properly count the Rota ballots as mandated by statute. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday from all parties in the Rota election case. The recount of the ballots is expected to start today.
Hocog said this was the first time that a recount has happened on Rota.
“I feel sorry that we were both dragged into this situation,” referring to Mendiola and the “unreasonable expenses” involved in the lawsuit.
If the recount will affirm his defeat, Hocog said he will ask his supporters “to accept the result and be satisfied with it.”
However, if there’s a change and is proclaimed the “real winner,” Hocog said he will ask the camp of Mendiola to “accept it so we can move forward for the welfare of the people of Rota.”
In the mayoral race last November, Mendiola received 547 votes; Hocog, 498; and Steve K. Mesngon, 341.
All ran as Independents.
