MANILA, Philippines — Former San Fernando mayoral candidate Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab on Thursday, May 22, 2025, officially filed an election protest before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Main Office in Intramuros, Manila, seeking a full manual recount of ballots cast in the city’s May 12 mayoral race.
The protest was filed through her legal counsels, Atty. Jeff Miranda and Atty. Arnold Bayubay, before the COMELEC Law Department and Records Section. The complaint challenges the integrity of the results, citing statistical anomalies — most notably the unprecedented outcome where Pineda-Cayabyab failed to win in even a single one of the city’s 239 precincts.
“This is more than just a political contest; this is a moral duty to uphold the democratic will of the Fernandino people,” Pineda-Cayabyab declared. “No candidate, regardless of political power, should override the sacred right of citizens to choose their leaders freely and fairly.”
The protest alleges a pattern of consistent vote misattribution and improbable voting trends that point to potential digital manipulation in favor of the opposing camp. It calls for the immediate preservation and safeguarding of all election documents, ballots, and data storage devices to prevent tampering and ensure full transparency in the recount process.
“This is not merely a protest against election results—it is a stand against the erosion of our democracy,” she added. “We are determined to seek justice not just for my candidacy, but for every disenfranchised voter whose voice was silenced.”
Pineda-Cayabyab and her legal team urged the COMELEC to act with urgency and impartiality in addressing the protest to help restore public confidence in the electoral system. DTP