Judge warns of contempt Wakee’s petition denied anew

CEBU, Philippines - For lack of merit, Judge Jocelyn Uy-Po of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in Consolacion-Cordova denied the petition filed by boxing promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud for the inclusion or approval of his registration as a registered voter of Cordova, Cebu.

In her decision, Po stressed that the issues raised in the present petition were the same issues Salud raised in his earlier petition which she denied.

“The court understands that these are same issues with the first petition filed before the court, with only the dates of residency as difference (9 months in the first petition and 1 year and 11 months on the second petition). This difference is just a leverage to avoid res judicata or a matter already judged,” the decision reads.

With that, Po ruled to put an end to the moves of Salud.

She warned that if Salud files a similar case again, she will cite him in direct contempt of court and more severely for his counsel, being an officer of the court.

“This play is making a mockery of our legal system and the petitioner must stop this. If these be allowed petitioner will be filing another similar petition only changing the dates of residence every time hoping that the court be misled somewhere,” the judge stated.

“This is very perjurious and this court hopes petitioner understands the consequences of his acts because it is either he lied in one or the other or he lied in both. At this instance it appears he lied in both,” the decision further reads.

The decision was issued on February 14, 2013.

Lawyer Fillmore Gomos told The FREEMAN that it was not them who filed the said petition but the other counsel of Salud, lawyer Galileo Angeles. The FREEMAN tried but was not able to get a statement from Angeles.

Earlier, Salud filed a case against the Election Registration Board of Cordova, Cebu namely Arvin Maghanoy, Ronilo Baguio and Liza Maningo.

In the petition filed by Salud, he said he was previously a registered voter of Punta Princesa, Cebu City but on June 2011 he entered into a contract of lease for a house located at Barangay Cogon, Cordova, Cebu managed by Marcosa Dinoy.

In order to pursue his intention to live in Cordova, he bought a lot in July 2012. As evidence he attached a tax declaration of real estate property registered under his name.

Aside from the lot, he also established a business enterprise under the registration of RWS Diamond Lumber Supply located at Stone Purok 1, San Miguel, Cordova, Cebu.

He said he was able to comply with the residency requirement provided by the Voter’s Registration Act.

On March 29, 2012 he filed an application for transfer of registration of record due to change of residence from Cebu City to Cordova. Salud said his application was approved but an opposition was filed on April 9, 2012 and on November 6, 2012 his application was disapproved by the respondents prompting him to file a complaint.

While the case was still pending before the court, Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy filed an intervention. Sitoy seeks reelection this May.

Sitoy questioned the residency of Salud citing he never complied with the residency requirement minimum of one year to run for a position in the government.

Po ruled to stick with the earlier ruling denying the registration of Salud. She said she found no error in the decision or recommendation of the Election Registration Board (ERB) that there was discrepancy in the application of Salud for registration. — /JPM (FREEMAN)