Butuan City- Mayor Ramon Calo of Carmen, Agusan del Norte, has questioned a court decision that unseated him.  The decision favored the electoral protest filed against him by his brother, Jesus.

 He told reporters during a news conference, that he felt “cheated” and he would fight for justice.  Calo was proclaimed winner in the May 14, 2007 mayoral race based on a COMELEC count that showed him with 4,818 votes.  His brother, Jesus, based on the same COMELEC count, bagged 4,540 votes. But regional Trial Court Judge Francisco Maclang declared Jesus winner with a plurality of 1,018 votes. Maclang finding irregularities, voided over one thousand ballots and deducted votes from Ramon. 

 Ramon said he won by 278 votes but lost in a courtroom because the judge voided the ballots that only had his “RMC” initials. He argued that “Monching” and “RMC” were recognized by the COMELEC. Lawyer Nelbert Poculan said the initials were valid in that Calo had “RMC” registered with the COMELEC. Calo also claimed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) found no falsification of document despite his brother’s allegations.  He said he instructed his lawyer to file an administrative complaint against the judge. Calo claimed he had asked Maclang to inhibit from the case last year.  He said he would also ask the court for a temporary restraining order to prevent Jesus from taking over as Mayor of Carmen.

 He said his brother is not his enemy but the Amantes who were allegedly using Jesus against him. (Obet Samonte, Mindanao Gold Star Daily)