Comelec disqualifies Quezon candidate convicted in US

MANILA, Philippines - The Second Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified a congressional candidate in Quezon province who had been convicted in the United States for 10 counts of insurance fraud and grand theft of personal property in 2004.

In a resolution, Second Division commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer, Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph have cancelled the certificate of candidacy of Eduardo Rodriguez to run for congressman of the third district of Quezon province.

The Second Division ruled that petitioner Briccio Lagan was able to prove that Rodriguez had committed a “material misrepresentation in his COC when he declared that he is eligible for the office he seeks to be elected” when he is not.

The resolution showed that Rodriguez had been sentenced to three years and eight months imprisonment by the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles in April 28, 2004. He served his sentence until June 2006.

“Five years therefrom would be June 2011. Thus, he will only be eligible to run as a candidate for the House of Representatives after such date,” the ruling stated.

The Second Division ruled that since five years have not yet lapsed from Rodriguez’s service of sentence for his conviction of a crime “involving moral turpitude,” he is disqualified to run for the position.   – Sheila Crisostomo