By Neska Centina

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc junked another motion related to a poll protest filed by former Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella.

According to City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan, the decision is “final and executory.”

He went on to call Puentevella’s move a “face-saving measure.”

In August 2016, the Comelec first division dismissed Puentevella’s election protest, claiming the former mayor failed to show substantial evidence to prove electoral fraud in the conduct of the May 2016 elections.

The body later junked a motion for reconsideration in October 2017.

In addition, the Supreme Court en banc dismissed an appeal filed by Puentevella last December.

Leonardia won the election with 120,231 versus Puentevella’s 97, 993./NC, WDJ