CALAPAN CITY – The mayor of Mamburao, the capital town of Occidental Mindoro, was ordered to vacate his position after a regional trial court (RTC) found out that he actually lost to his rival in the 2007 local elections.
Unseated was second-term Mayor Joel Panaligan. His rival, Voltaire Anthony “Bambi” Villarosa, who filed the electoral protest, was ordered to immediately take his oath as the duly elected mayor of Mamburao.
In his order, the Mamburao RTC said Panaligan lost to Villarosa by 452 votes.
Originally, Villarosa, a cousin of Occidental Mindoro Rep. Amelita Villarosa, contested only 69 votes.
However, the court ordered that all votes cast in the May 2007 mayoral race be revised and scrutinized.
Villarosa ran under the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, President Arroyo’s political party, and Panaligan under the United Opposition.