By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The recount in the Isabela mayoral race began yesterday morning.
In a radio interview, Atty. Jose Max Ortiz, legal counsel for Joselito Malabor, the incumbent mayor who lost his reelection bid to Dr. Irene Consunji Montilla in last month’s midterm elections, said a manual recount will be conducted before the La Carlota City Regional Trial Court-Branch 73.
Based on the most recent returns, Malabor lost by 13,892 votes to 13,844, a difference of 48 votes.
The petitioner said allegations surrounding the “double transmission” of votes need to be clarified. He also alleged, with votes still being counted, local officials “rushed” Consunji Montilla’s proclamation.
Malabor assumed the seat after his predecessor, Enrique Montilla III, Consunji Montilla’s husband, passed away in 2017.
In other results, Renato Malabor, Jr. easily won vice mayor, defeating his opponent Beverly Ilagan by 16,436 votes to 9,483; meanwhile, Francis Malabor took the top spot among candidates for Sangguniang Bayan./DGB, WDJ