Voters question Papa’s candidacy in Taguig

A disqualification case was filed against Mayor Ricardo Papa, Jr. of Taguig before the Commission on Elections for alleged misrepresentation of his eligibility to run for a third term.

In their petition filed by their lawyer Sixto Brillantes, voters Danilo Rivera, Rodolfo Tangpuz and Eduardo Estabillo claimed Papa was not eligible to run for reelection since he had served as mayor for three terms.

They said Papa had already been elected in three consecutive mayoralty elections in 1992, 1995 and 1998.

In 1995, Isidro Garcia was proclaimed as mayor but his proclamation as mayor was nullified by a Pasig-Taguig regional trial court who declared Papa the real winner.

But Papa shrugged off news of the disqualification case. "I did not serve the full term of three years (after) 1995 when I was belatedly proclaimed as the mayor after my election protect. That means I am eligible to run again this May," Papa said.

Papa said he and his supporters were taking the disqualification case as a sign that his opponents are panicking over his strong chances of clinching another term as mayor.

Papa, who is running under the Lakas-NUCD party is faced in his reelection bid by Sigfrido "Freddy" Tinga, of the Kilusang Diwa ng Taguig-Reporma-Lapian ng Manggagawa.