A total of 56 election protests have been filed before the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET), majority of which are petitions claiming anomalies in the poll automation system during the May 10 elections.

Former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and former Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera were among the congressional candidates who protested the proclamation of their respective opponents.

Ermita filed an election contest the ballot count that gave his rival, Rep. Tomas V. Apacible, a 22,024 lead during the congressional race in the first district of Batangas.

On the other hand, Devanadera filed a quo warranto case questioning the qualifications of re-electionist Rep. Wilfredo Mark Enverga to represent the first district of Quezon in the Lower House.

A quo warranto issue was also raised by congressional bets Mariano Nalupta Jr. and Ferdinand P. Ignacio against former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos who won the congressional race in the second district of Ilocos Norte.

Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres Gomez is also facing a quo warranto issue filed by Eufrocino C. Codilla Jr. who failed his first attempt in a congressional contest.

Even before the HRET could be composed, the tribunal already dismissed four newly-filed cases for still unknown reasons. (Ben Rosario)