SAN FERNANDO, La Union – The Court of Appeals (CA) has reversed the July 14, 2006 ruling of a lower court in Agoo, La Union convicting an incumbent provincial board member for an alleged election offense.The CA’s first division found board member Pablo Olarte, a lawyer and former mayor of Agoo town, not guilty of violating the Omnibus Election Code for allegedly disrupting the proceedings of the municipal board of canvassers on May 15, 2001.
“The procedures enunciated in the Omnibus Election Code could have been relaxed a little as appellant (Olarte) was not unduly impairing the canvassing. Penalizing appellant for exercising his right is not administering justice,” stated the CA ruling, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR.
Olarte described his acquittal as “God’s will,” saying that the charge against him was politically motivated.
In July 2006, the RTC found Olarte to have allegedly violated the election code and sentenced him to a jail term of two years and eight months, besides disqualifying him from holding public office.
During the May 14, 2001 elections, Olarte sought the mayoral post, which he had held from 1988 to 1998, against then incumbent mayor Franny Eriguel, but lost. – Jun Elias