COMELEC Commences Ballot Recount in Pampanga Election Dispute
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has officially announced the start of a manual recount of ballots for an election protest in Pampanga, scheduled to begin on February 2, 2026. This action follows an order from the agency's First Division, which has deemed the protest filed by former Board Member Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab against City of San Fernando Mayor Vilma Caluag as sufficient in form and content.
Details of the Recount Process and Schedule
According to the January 26, 2026 Order issued by COMELEC, the recount will be conducted at the Palacio del Gobernador Building in Intramuros, Manila. The sessions are set to run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and resume from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., continuing until the process is fully completed. The ballot boxes containing the contested ballots have already been delivered, inventoried, sealed, and placed under COMELEC custody in preparation for the recount.
Background of the Election Protest
The election protest stems from the May 2025 city mayoral race in San Fernando, Pampanga, where Pineda-Cayabyab lost to Caluag. On May 22, 2025, Pineda-Cayabyab filed the protest at the COMELEC Main Office in Intramuros, seeking a manual recount of all ballots cast across the city's 239 precincts. However, the initial recount will focus on 48 pilot protested precincts as part of the agency's procedural review.
The COMELEC First Division's order on December 23, 2025, confirmed that the protest meets the necessary legal standards, paving the way for this recount. This development highlights the ongoing efforts to ensure electoral integrity and transparency in local government processes.
