Lawyer in petition vs Mabatid quits

CEBU, Philippines — Lawyer Benjamin Militar yesterday withdrew as one of the legal counsels of defeated Mabolo barangay captain candidate Daniel Francis Arguedo in his petition for quo warranto.

Arguedo, 48, earlier filed a petition for quo warranto and to annul the proclamation of Prisca Niña Mabatid as the new barangay captain of Mabolo before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities.

In his petition, Arguedo questioned Mabatid's proclamation claiming the latter lacks the residency requirement as enumerated under the rules.

To prove his case, the prosecution had presented three witnesses that Mabatid is not a resident of Barangay Mabolo but of Sunflower Drive, Sunny Hills, in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City.

Lawyer Vicente Fernandez II, one of the legal counsels of Mabatid, said when Judge Monalila Tecson of MTCC Branch 1 resumed the proceeding after the recess, Militar manifested before the court that he will withdraw as counsel.

Militar is a collaborating counsel of lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan.

When asked why Militar withdrew as one of the prosecution's counsel, Ligutan said he has no idea as he did not attend the hearing because he is out of town.

However, he said he will present their last two witnesses today.

Under Section 2 of COMELEC Resolution No. 10196 series of 2017 enumerated the qualifications for punong barangay namely: a citizen of the Philippines; a registered voter in the barangay where he intends to be elected; a resident therein for at least one year immediately preceding the day of the election; able to read and write Filipino or any other local language; and at least 18 years of age on election day.

Fernandez, however, said they are confident that the law is with them. He said having a property in another barangay does not mean their client is a registered voter there.

Based on her voter's certification, Mabatid is a registered voter of Mabolo.  (FREEMAN)