‘Controversial’ mayoralty bet withdraws CoC

CEBU, Philippines - Less than three months before the May 13 elections, the controversial mayoralty candidate Michael “Mike” Jimena Gorriceta of Pavia town in Iloilo had withdrawn his candidacy for yet unknown reason.

This was confirmed by Comelec-Iloilo after Pavia election officer Evelina Maciado has informed the Comelec Law Department in Manila about Gorriceta’s withdrawal last March 5.

There was controversy over Gorriceta’s candidacy as it challenged the mayoralty bid of his namesake-cousin, Councilor Michael “Mike” Barrido Gorriceta.

After the last filing of certificate of candiday (CoC) on October 5, 2012, Councilor Gorriceta filed a petition for disqualification of his cousin “Mike” Jimena Gorriceta for being a nuisance candidate.

The councilor did not expect his cousin, a job-hire employee of Pavia municipal government, has filed his candidacy for mayor also, through lawyer Jonee Bill Tañeza.

The councilor’s cousin went missing since September 23, 2012 as reported by his father Gerardo Gorriceta based on the blotter of the Pavia Police Station. 

Councilor Gorriceta said the candidacy of his cousin will definitely create confusion to the voters, but he clarified that he had no hurt feelings over his cousin’s decision, which he described as something to sabotage his political plans.

The councilor also believed that somebody might have convinced and financed his cousin to run for mayor, as an independent candidate, because his cousin has even no capacity to hire a private lawyer.

This was the second-time when his cousin run for the same position, the first of which was in 2010 when his cousin also runs against his father, incumbent Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta, said the councilor.

Mayor Gorriceta said he was very thankful for the withdrawal of his nephew; an advantage to the political bid of his son. “I am happy he is back to his family,” he added.  (FREEMAN)