Comelec junks bids to disqualify Trinidad from Pasay race

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed petitions to disqualify Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad from seeking re-election this May.

In a 16-page decision, the Comelec’s first division ruled that Trinidad has not violated the three-term limit because he had not fully served his second term as mayor of Pasay City when he was dismissed and removed from office by the Ombudsman in 2007 for allegedly awarding garbage collection and disposal contracts without public bidding. He was re-elected the same year.

“Thus, while respondent has undoubtedly been elected to three consecutive terms beginning 2001, he has not, however, served all of them in full,” the Comelec said.

The Comelec cited lack of merit as grounds for the dismissal of the disqualification petitions filed by barangay captains Benjamin Ruiz, Antonio Arguelles and Raulito Cruz, and private citizens Rogelio Estrella and Marissa Andres.

The petitioners argued that Trinidad has served for three consecutive terms since 2001 and is therefore banned from running in this year’s mayoral race.  – Rhodina Villanueva