Aga Muhlach, Rep. Fuentebella agree to drop poll case

The House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) has dismissed a poll protest filed by actor Aga Muhlach against Camarines Sur Rep. Felix William "Wimpy" Fuentebella in connection with alleged irregularities in the 2013 elections.

This was after the HRET granted a motion jointly filed by the camps of Muhlach and Fuentebella seeking to dismiss the election protest.

"They both mutual agreed that further proceedings in the instant case will not work for the best interests of the people of the fourth district of the province of Camarines Sur," said the HRET in a notice of resolution signed by acting secretary Melissa Leonardo-Rodriguez.

"The instant election protest and the corresponding counter-protest are considered dismissed," it added.

As a result, the HRET recalled all its orders and notices relative to the revision of ballots in the 57 pilot protested clustered precincts.

In November last year, the HRET declared Muhlach's protest as sufficient in form and substance, and then allowed the collection and opening of ballot boxes from some 225 clustered precincts that conducted the close congressional race between Muhlach and Fuentebella in the May 2013 elections.

The HRET at the time said Muhlach's allegations of irregularities "constitute sufficient grounds to warrant the opening of the ballot boxes containing the ballots to determine the truth or falsity of the said allegation."

Muhlach at the time had asked the HRET for the ballot boxes, the Voters' Registration Records/Book of Voters, Election Day Computerized Voters' List and voting records, and other documents related to the midterm polls.

The actor raised doubts on ballots from the towns of Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Presentacion, Sagnay, Siruna, and Tinambac.

He said the ballots were tampered through corrupted compact flash cards in the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines used in the elections. He also claimed Fuentebella resorted to buying votes.

Fuentebella, in turn, has accused him of the same.

The HRET is composed of nine members: three justices of the Supreme Court, and six members of the House of Representatives. The tribunal has jurisdiction over electoral protests concerning members of the House of Representatives. —KBK, GMA News