This bet files COCs for mayor of 2 towns

DAGUPAN CITY , Philippines  – This one’s for the books.

A 63-year-old man has filed certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the mayoral post in two towns – San Jacinto and Pozorrubio – and local election officials are at loss on what to do.

Benjamin Sornoza Espinoza filed his COC for San Jacinto town mayor as an independent candidate last Nov. 30.

Later that day, though, he also submitted his COC for mayor of Pozorrubio where he said he has been a resident for 15 years.

In his separate COCs, Espinoza listed his addresses as Barangay San Guillermo in San Jacinto and Barangay Maambol in Pozorrubio. He said he is a registered voter of both towns.

He is now the subject of a letter jointly signed by the election officers of San Jacinto and Pozorrubio towns addressed to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo, through lawyer Ferdinand Rafanan, director of the poll body’s legal department, for appropriate action.

Lawyer Reddy Balarbar, provincial election supervisor, told The STAR that in his long years in the Comelec, this is the first time he has encountered such a situation.

Balarbar said it would be up to the top Comelec officials to decide on what action to take on Espinoza’s case.