Radaza-Chan rivalry continues

CEBU, Philippines - Both Lapu-Lapu City Mayor-elect Paz Radaza and city Councilor and defeated mayoralty candidate Junard "Ahong" Chan were given until June 29 to submit their memoranda to the Commission on Election (Comelec)-Manila in connection with Chan’s prayer to nullify the proclamation of the Radazas and to disqualify the Radazas from assuming office.

In a press conference, Chan's legal counsel Romeo Igot told reporters that a supplementary petition has been filed to further bolster their allegation of massive vote buying and fraud in the May 10 elections.

The petition was filed three weeks ago before Comelec-Manila.

Attached to the supplementary petition were the affidavits of 90 people and 500 copies of sample ballots.

Chan has no witnesses from the barangay islets of Caubian, Pangan-an, and Caohagan.

Chan, who belongs to the Nacionalista Party (NP), lost to Paz Radaza in the mayoralty race. Other bets who had vied for the post were Efrain Pelaez, Jr. of the Liberal Party's, and independents Isabelito Darnayla and Virgilio Cana.

All the losing mayoralty candidates alleged that the Radazas and their ticket won the election through massive vote-buying.

The Radaza camp has already filed a motion asking the poll body to dismiss the petition citing the petitioner's failure to present evidence as annexes to their allegations of fraud.

But according to Igot, the motion to dismiss is not allowed under Section 10 of Comelec Resolution 8804, a paragraph of Chan's supplementary petition read.

"Filing a prohibited pleading coupled with a reservation to file an answer frustrates the aim of the Comelec in achieving a just and expeditious determination and disposition of every action and proceeding brought before them," the petition read.

Igot said the motion to dismiss and their opposition are among the matters that the Comelec will resolve after they will simultaneously file the memoranda.

"This case is different from most cases that were not resolved until the term of the questioned winning candidates expired because we have all the needed proofs on our claim of massive vote buying and these people are Radaza supporters who were not paid the promised P500 each," Igot said.   (FREEMAN NEWS)