Salud defies court, files COC for Cordova mayor

CEBU, Philippines - Boxing promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud defied the ruling of the court that disqualified him to seek any elective position in Cordova for not being a bonafide resident of the town.

Despite the adverse ruling of the court and the threat of being cited in contempt, Salud yesterday filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor before the office of the election registrar in Cordova.

“Ako gayud ipadayon ang atong mga plano ug wala ko mahadlok sa bisan unsa pa man nga ilang mga hulga (I am pursuing my plans and I am not afraid of the threats),” Salud said.

Salud was accompanied by more than 3,000 supporters carrying placards printed with the words, “ We Love Wakee.”

Salud and his supporters marched from their headquarters in Barangay Poblacion to Cordova Parish Church where they attended a morning mass. After the mass, Salud and his supporters proceeded to the Comelec office at the Municipal Hall.

Salud’s runningmate incumbent Councilor Rowena Tungco and their lineup, councilors Edwina Premacio, Rene Buntol, Manuel Pacaldo, Ador Aytoma, Johnson Tan and Manuel Bingcog also filed their respective COC.

A representative of Mayor Adelino Sitoy tried to block Salud’s filing of his COC by making a manifestation before Comelec registrar Arvin Maghanoy about the court’s ruling.

Abing Borromeo told Maghanoy that the Municipal Trial Court earlier disqualified Salud to vote and run for any elective position in Cordova because of his failure to meet the residency requirement. The MTC’s ruling was upheld by the Regional Trial Court.

But despite the manifestation, Maghanoy received Salud’s COC. Comelec provincial supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said that the election registrar of Cordova was just exercising his ministerial duty to receive the COC.

Castillano said that Sitoy has five days to file a petition for disqualification against Salud. According to Castillano, Sitoy has an option to file it before the election officer in Cordova or directly with the Comelec in Manila. with Gregg M. Rubio/FPL