La Union vice mayor unseated over dual citizenship

BAUANG, La Union ,Philippines  – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has affirmed a local court’s decision unseating the incumbent vice mayor of Caba, La Union for holding dual citizenship when she filed her candidacy during the 2010 elections.

Judge Rose Mary Molina Alim of Regional Trial Court Branch 33 here issued a writ of execution Thursday for the removal from office of Vice Mayor Teodora Sobejana Condon based on the Comelec decision.

The poll body, headed by Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., upheld Alim’s decision on Oct. 22, 2010 disqualifying Condon from holding the vice mayoral post because she failed to take an oath renouncing her Australian citizenship.

“Republic Act 9225 specifically requires the operative act of making a personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign citizenship before any public officer authorized to administer oath to qualify as a candidate and to hold public office, such as vice mayor,” reads part of the Comelec’s 10-page decision.

Condon, who holds Filipino and Australian citizenship, won the vice mayoral race in 2010 against Luis Bautista.

However, Bautista, along with two others, filed a court petition seeking Condon’s disqualification for not renouncing under oath her Australian citizenship.

Condon contested the court and Comelec decisions by filing a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court last Oct. 14 but the tribunal did not issue a restraining order. Thus, it becomes a ministerial duty of the local court to issue the writ of execution prayed for, with the finality of the decision.

After obtaining the writ of execution Thursday afternoon, Philip Caesar Crispino, Caba town’s first councilor, immediately took his oath of office as the new vice mayor before Gov. Manuel Ortega in San Fernando City, along with Bautista who was appointed councilor.

Crispino’s oath-taking was witnessed by Caba officials led by his elder brother, Mayor Clyde Crispino, and Rep. Franny Eriguel of La Union’s second district.

Mayor Crispino and his brother vice mayor, along with all their councilors, also took their oath as members of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, of which Ortega is the provincial chairman.

The Crispinos were formerly allied with Kampi or the Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino party.