Comelec: Nothing wrong with Cebu bet’s paid ad

CEBU — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the newspaper advertisement placed by gubernatorial candidate Gwendolyn Garcia’s camp that claimed she won the elections, did not violate any rules or regulations.

Despite this assurance by Comelec regional attorney Marshal Rubia, Pepita Jane Petralba, lawyer of Garcia’s rival, Celestino Martinez Jr., is not convinced.

Petralba said Garcia’s paid advertisement showing that she won by 7,529 votes over Martinez is an act that defies the law.

She said the publication was made despite the pending protests against the certificates of canvass from 14 municipalities and cities.

If there was any violation, Rubia said it does not fall under the Comelec’s jurisdiction.

Petralba said she was saddened by the comment of Gwendolyn’s father, Gov. Pablo Garcia, asking her to go back to college and study her law.

Petralba said she and the governor actually both graduated from the University of San Carlos.

Published early this week, the paid ad contained figures that included those under protest, claiming that Gwen was winning by a margin of 7,529 votes in 28 out of 47 municipalities, three out of five cities, and four out of the six districts in the province. — Freeman News Service