Villarin files disqualification case vs. Cutie

CEBU, Philippines - Independent Cebu City north district congressional candidate Florencio Villarin took the time to launch a final assault against his toughest rival Rachel Marguerite “Cutie” del Mar, of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan, five days prior to the national and local elections last Monday.

Cutie’s camp was quick to dismiss the attack.

Villarin, last May 5, filed a petition before the Law Division of the Commission on Elections in Intramuros, Manila, through Cebu City north district election officer Dennis Ausan.

The petition asked the election body to disqualify Del Mar for allegedly violating Section 68 of Article 9 of the Omnibus Election Code which prohibits any candidate from giving money or other material consideration to influence, induce or corrupt the voters or public officials performing electoral functions.

“The respondent, in conspiracy with her father, Congressman Raul del Mar, on March 22, 2010 and thereafter during the campaign period has distributed to the residents of the North District of Cebu city, health or medical cards assuring voters free medical assistance program, evidently to influence, induce and corrupt the voters to vote for her on election day,” Villarin said in the petition.

Villarin said that Cutie also violated Section 85b of Article 10 and Section 261 of Article 22 of the Omnibus Election Code when she and her father allowed barangay captains to display during the campaign period their picture together in the “44 buses purchased out of government funds and donated to 44 barangays in the north district”.

“Such billboards, tinplate-poster…and the like of whatever size, shape, form or kind, advertising her candidacy is prohibited by law and is ground for disqualification,” the petition read.

But Rudy Gilos, election officer for the north district, said that the distribution of the medical cards was done before the local campaign period started on March 26.

Any form of campaign before the start of the election period is not regulated which means that the distribution of medical cards to indigent residents cannot be used as a ground for Cutie’s disqualification.

Regarding the buses, Gilos said that Villarin or any concerned citizen should have filed their complaint at the start of the campaign period or earlier so the Comelec would have been able to notify the accused and have the design removed.

“That could have been erased immediately before if one filed a complaint. Pero karon, medyo late na kay human naman ang eleksyon. After filing, i-notify pa man gud na nato,” Gilos said.

“Just like sa illegal posters where they are given by Comelec five days to remove and modify the posters according to the standards. Failure on the part of the candidate to correct their mistake, that’s the time we will file charges for election violation” he added.

Rep. Del Mar told The FREEMAN they will not entertain Villarin’s complaints.

“That’s nonsense,” the representative said. -  THE FREEMAN