“LAPU MAYORALTY BET TAGS CHAN AS DISQUALIFIED”

By Tonton Alcos Antogop

 

LAPU-LAPU CITY- Showing a document from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) en banc Engr. Rolando Patalinjug claims that his rival Junard “Ahong” Chan is already disqualified as mayoralty candidate here. “Akong giawhag ang mga lumalaban ni Ahong Chan ug ang katawhan sa Lapu-Lapu nga tan-awa ni ninyo kay mausik lang unya ang inyong boto sa disqualified nga kandidato,” Patalinjug told reporters in a press conference in their campaign headquarters today, April 4, in Barangay Canjulao.

Patalinjug showed a photocopy of the certified true copy of Resolution No. 10420 (as amended by Comelec Resolution No. 10430) where Chan’s name is among the 53 candidates for the May 13 midterm elections who are “BE DEEMED NOT FILED” their Certificates of Candidacy (COC).

Patalinjug has already shown to reporters the same document last March 27 in a previous presscon but what he showed aside from being a Certified True Copy is what he personally obtained from the COMELEC Central Office in Intramuros, Manila. It is an excerpt of the minutes of the regular en-banc meeting of the Commission on Elections held on November 28, 2018 titled “IN THE MATTER OF NON-USE OF THE AMENDED CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY (COC) IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 13, 2019 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS (NLE),” the dispositive portion of which reads,

“After due deliberation, the Commission RESOLVED as it hereby RESOLVES, to approve the recommendation of the Law Department in declaring that all Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) following the old form which lacks Item No. 22 as received by the COMELEC field offices shall be DEEMED NOT FILED, following COMELEC Resolution No. 10420, as amended by COMELEC Resolution No. 10430.

” Chan earlier denied that he used an old form where the item no. 22 was not indicated but the Patalinjug camp also provided to iNews.ph a photocopy of the alleged old form which was the COC that was filed by Chan in the Comelec Lapu-Lapu City last October 16, 2018.

Chan and the 52 other candidates quoting Comelec Law Director Ma. Norina Tangaro-Casingal used an old COC which lacked item no. 22 where a question on having been found liable of an offense with a penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office was written.

Patalinjug is confident that if Chan is disqualified he could beat former Mayor Arturo Radaza. Chan was not in his office when sought for reaction by reporters but he earlier said that Patalinjug merely showed a piece of paper saying he is still a candidate because his name is included in the official ballot based on what he saw in the Comelec website.

Chan used to be an ally of Radaza but severed his ties with the former Mayor in 2010. Incumbent City Mayor Paz Radaza is not already eligible for reelection as she is done with three terms this June. She is running for Congresswoman however in lieu of her daughter, Rep. Aileen Radaza.

Patalinghug earlier told Chan that if they combine forces, they can easily beat the former Mayor. “Maayo unta siya si Ahong mudapig na sa among grupo kay misulti man siya sa una nga sugot ra siya ug dili siya kadagan basta mapildi ra kuno ang mga Radaza maayo unta ug tinud-on na niya ang iyang sulti. Mudapig na lang siya sa among grupo ug iyang mga supporter arun mudaug gyud ta.” Patalinjug said that the people of this city is clamoring for change.

 

 

 

About The Author