Legal battle heightens in Antique
Occupants in key positions of the Provincial Government of Antique remains a mystery, officially that is, as protests hounded the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here.
As such, proclamations expected in the Executive post failed to materialize in a post-election week that intensified with legal maneuvers from the camps of re-electionist Governor Sally Zaldivar-Perez and oppositors Arturo Pacificador and Jovito Plameras.
Till the Comelec finally resolves the matter of conducting the provincial canvassing, delay is seen to continue this week with Perez insiders sharing to The News Today (TNT) possibilities of yet more legal maneuverings in the Comelec Central Office in Manila.
From the hotly-contested gubernatorial seat, protests were lodged on election returns for the vice-governor and board members coming from 18 Antique towns.
Unofficial tally results of election-watchdogs National Movement For Free Elections (NAMFREL) and the Parish Pastoral Council For Responsible Voting (PPCRV) showed a steady and comfortable lead of Governor Perez over her two opponents.
To recall, disqualification cases were lodged against the lady governor by former Assemblyman Pacificador and former Governor Plameras relative to the distribution of government checks. The duo in their complaint averred that Governor Perez violated a Comelec ruling covering prohibited acts during election period.
Perez on the other hand countered with another disqualification case against Plameras saying under the rule covering special disqualification cases, Plameras as former governor is prohibited from running in the same post anew after claiming full retirement benefits from the government.
The lady governor is aided by counsel, noted Ilonggo lawyer Guillermo Alcantara and associates while Pacificador represents himself before the Comelec and Board of Canvassers.