Disqualification case vs Isabela mayor junked

SANTIAGO CITY, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has upheld the certificate of candidacy (COC) of a re-electionist mayor of an Isabela town, whose disqualification was sought by his rival, alleging that he has served three consecutive terms.

Ramon town Mayor Wilfredo Tabag, according to the Comelec, is still qualified to seek his third and final term as mayor, as he was not able to complete his supposed first term when he was unseated in favor of his 2004 rival nine months before the next polls.

It said Tabag’s tenure as mayor from July 16, 2006 to April 18, 2007 “cannot at all be counted as his first term” as he was removed from office on April 18, 2007 by virtue of a Comelec resolution that his rival, Raymond Espidol, was the true poll winner.

The cancellation of Tabag’s COC was earlier sought by his rival, Vice Mayor Derrick Vizcarra of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Reports, however, indicated that what Vizcarra filed was only for clarification and not for Tabag’s disqualification to run for another term.