Quo warranto case filed vs Mabolo village chief

CEBU, Philippines — Claiming Mabolo Barangay Captain Prisca Niña Mabatid is not an actual resident of the village, defeated barangay captain candidate is seeking for the nullification of the former's victory proclamation.

Daniel Francis Arguedo, 48, a resident of L. Tudtud Street, Barangay Mabolo, filed a petition for quo warranto and to annul Mabatid's proclamation before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities.

Today is the hearing of the petition.

Arguedo’s counsel, lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan, told The FREEMAN they are confident that they will get a favorable decision in their petition.

Allegedly, Mabatid was not an actual resident of Mabolo, but of Sunflower Drive, Sunnyhills Subdivision, Talamban, Cebu City.

"We are confident that we will get a favorable decision. The evidence against respondent Mabatid is overwhelming. She admitted many times over that she is not a resident of Barangay Mabolo, but of Barangay Talamban," the message reads.

Mabatid was proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on May 14, 2018 as the new barangay captain of Mabolo after garnering 6,147 votes.

Arguedo, who obtained 4,683 votes, has asked that Mabatid's proclamation be nullified claiming he failed to comply with the residency requirement.

Under Section 2 of COMELEC Resolution No. 10196 series of 2017 provides that in order to be qualified to run for Punong Barangay, he or she must be a resident of the village for at least one year immediately preceding the day of the election.

In addition, Arguedo alleged a certification by the City Assessor's Office of the Cebu City revealed that Mabatid owns no real property, residential or otherwise, in Barangay Mabolo, but only in Talamban. (FREEMAN)