Salud’s CoC dropped; 9 declared nuisance

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has cancelled the Certificate of Candidacy of Rex “Wakee” Salud in Corodova while nine other candidates in Cebu have been declared nuisance by the poll body.

Comelec resolution 9614 delisted Salud from the official list of candidates for mayor in Cordova. The resolution says that there is no more legal impediment to enforce the decision of the Regional Trial Court in Mandaue City to cancel Salud’s COC since it has already become final and executory.

RTC Branch 28 in Mandaue City earlier ruled that Salud is not a bonafide resident of Cordova.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy filed the disqualification case against Salud last year questioning his residency in the town, which according to the Local Government Code, should at least be a year. Salud is not available for comment as of press time.

Meanwhile, the Comelec en banc has declared nine candidates from Cebu as nuisance. They are Bert Abella, Jose Cane and Gumersindo Canoy who are running for a seat in the Sangguniang Panglungsod representing the South District, and Ricardo Adlawan in the North District.

North District congressional candidates Juan Arenasa and Eliseo Tumulak  and Erlinda Sollano for the 2nd district. Mayoralty candidates Lea Ong and Miguel Selim.

They were part of the 51 names declared nuisance by the Comelec nationwide.

Comelec provincial supervisor Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano said they recommended declaring the said candidates as nuisance for having no capability to finance a campaign.

Castillano said that as stated in section 69 of the Omnibus Election Code their office may take action motu propio to declare nuisance candidates.

According to Castillano, a candidate can be declared nuisance  if his or her ‘certificate has been filed to put the election process in mockery or disrepute or to cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of the names of the registered candidates or by other circumstances or acts which clearly demonstrate that the candidate has no bona fide intention to run for the office for which the COC has been files and thus prevent a faithful determination of the true will of the electorate.”

Prior to the recommendation, the Comelec called the candidates for due process in which they interviewed them on their purpose to run for office.

With the resolution of the Comelec Central office, immediate cancellation of their names from the candidates’ profile system has been ordered as well as in the certified list of candidates for the May 2013 elections.

Castillano said though that the candidates would have the option to seek  a Temporary Restraining Order from the court. Castillano said there is still time for these candidates to be included in the list of official candidates since the printing of ballot will start this month.

The Comelec has scheduled a field testing of the PCOS machine and mock elections in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City on January 26.

Castillano said they will be simulating what would transpire in the actual Election Day and more importantly, will be focusing on the transmission of the ballots using the PCOS machine. —(FREEMAN)