Jalosjos, brod disqualified

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified convicted rapist Romeo Jalosjos and his brother Dominador Jr. from running for local posts in Zamboanga del Sur.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the poll body was just carrying out a Zamboanga regional trial court (RTC) ruling disqualifying Romeo Jalosjos for being a non-resident of Zamboanga City where he planned to run for mayor.

“He cannot run for mayor of Zamboanga City unless he goes up to the Supreme Court,” he added.

On the other hand, Dominador Jalosjos, former mayor of Dapitan City, was barred from running for governor of Zamboanga del Sur due to his robbery conviction.

The Comelec has also barred boxing promoter Rex “Wakee” Ong Salud from seeking the mayoral post of Cordoba, Cebu for failing to meet the residency requirement, as the Mandaue RTC earlier ruled.

The Comelec has also disqualified 73 local candidates from running in the May 13 midterm polls.

In Resolution No. 9610, the poll body said 63 of them were found to be nuisance candidates while the rest turned out to be ineligible for the positions that they were seeking.

The Comelec came up with the resolution after receiving consolidated reports from regional election directors, provincial election supervisors, and election officers.

Thirty-nine of those disqualified were running for different positions in Metro Manila.