By Emmanuel Canto

Following the Regional Trial Court of La Carlota-Branch 74 decision where Judge Mila D. Yap Cameso affirmed Dr. Irene Consunji Montilla’s victory as Isabela mayor, the town official recently held a press conference expressing her optimism after the ruling.

“It is our chance to do something for the town because, as you know, Isabela is at the bottom as far as the town is concerned,” she said. “There is no way to go but up, and I want towards that direction.”

The mayor also discussed working with a divided town council.

“The support of the council is not 100 percent [and] I cannot understand why,” she noted. “Despite [that] fact, I am optimistic that the opposition councilors would rethink [their] position.”

Shortly after last May’s midterm elections, former Isabela Mayor Joselito Malabor formally filed a petition seeking a recount following his narrow loss to Consunji Montilla. Based on the initial returns, Malabor lost by 13,892 votes to 13,844, a difference of 48 votes.

The subsequent recount saw that margin narrow to 22.

While Malabor is still eligible to file an appeal, the mayor and her legal counsel, Atty. Jose Antonio D. Angudong, are “very optimistic” she will still emerge the winner./WDJ