Tupas, 2 mayorables' fate hang as Comelec central office decides on disqualification raps
And the waiting officially begins for re-electionist Iloilo Governor Neil Tupas Sr., and at least two mayorables of Iloilo towns subject of disqualification raps before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here.
Yesterday saw the closing arguments of petitioner Mayor Rene Cordero of Estancia in a hearing before Provincial Comelec officials.
To recall, the re-electionist mayor sought for the disqualification of opponent Restituto Mosqueda docketed as SPA (PES-ILO) No. A07-007. The filing itself came days after the duo appeared for the Commission's first peace covenant pushed in Iloilo. Estancia was a first choice for the peace pact following an earlier heated start of the campaign period.
Cordero's disqualification raps as petitioned was "for lack of some qualifications or possessing some grounds for disqualification" on the former police general turned administration bet for mayor.
In a ten-paged Petition, Cordero averred that his opponent is a "stranger" to Estancia and has long been a purported resident of Quezon City. He also supposedly lack the required one-year period of residency mandatory on all candidates.
In fact, Cordero's argument continued, Mosqueda is such a stranger to the town "unacquainted with the needs of Estancia community," while adding that "he does not even know the name of the barangay which he identified as his barangay of residence in his application for registration."
Registration records presented by Cordero before the Comelec showed Mosqueda's application that stated "Barangay Calumpang" as supposed residence prior to his registration as new voter here in yet another barangay.
"By his application, he made it appear that at the time he applied for registration, he was already a resident of "Brgy. Calumpang" Estancia for one year and half years prior to his application," the Petition continued. Yet problem is, "There is no "Barangay Calumpang" in Estancia as per certification by the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator of Estancia, Iloilo."
And Mosqueda was born in Sara, the Petition added "thus respondent has no connection by heart, soul and intention with Estancia because it is neither the place of his origin, his ancestral place nor his domicile."
There could also be a possible violation committed under Republic Act 8189 relative to the change of residence to another city or municipality, Cordero's Petition for Disqualification as argued added.
The News Today (TNT) gathered that some 100 supporters of Cordero came all the way from Estancia to show moral support in yesterday's hearing. Uniformed policemen also milled the Comelec premises though it was not immediately clear if the authorities present were called in purposely for the Cordero-Mosqueda hearing.
Meantime, waiting also begins for mayoralty bets of Batad, Iloilo this time disqualification raps sought on a comebacking mayor.
Same official waiting period for the fate of re-electionist Iloilo governor whose disqualification was sought by opponent, gubernatorial candidate Roberto "Obet" Armada, incumbent Vice Governor of Iloilo.