CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama announced yesterday that Team Rama will file a formal complaint before the Commission on Elections seeking for the disqualification of north district Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. who filed his certificate of candidacy for councilor in the south district for the 2013 election.
Rama directed his lawyers to speed up the preparation of a ver ified petition to cancel the certificate of candidacy of Pe believing he is no longer qualified to run as councilor after he served for nine consecutive years as councilor of the city, with his term ending June 30 next year.
Comelec rules provide that the verified petition to disqualify a candidate may be filed by any person within five days from the last day for the filing of certificate of candidacy. The petition shall be filed in 10 legible copies, personally or through a duly authorized representative, with the Comelec office.
Comelec also requires the petitioner to furnish the respondent a copy of the petition, in case personal service is not feasible or the respondent refuses to receive the petition or the respondent’s whereabouts cannot be ascertained, the petitioner shall execute an affidavit stating the reasons or circumstances therefore.
Pe, a member of the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan is a third-termer councilor in the north district who transferred his residence to Sitio Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe, in the south district. Comelec already accepted him as a resident of Guadalupe.
Cebu City South district Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña supported Pe intention to run in the south district.
“Why don’t we let the people decide? If the people vote for me, then accept it. Under the Aguinaldo doctrine the Supreme Court ruled that the voice of the people is paramount since the issue against Aguinaldo was already aired in the campaign, same with Pe. It shows that other side is insecure. They need to hide behind the skirt of the law, mora’g talawan g’yud sila,” Osmeña said.
“Pasagdan na lang unta nato ang mga maalam ug mabuot nga mga botante sa siyudad sa Sugbo nga maoy mohukom og kinsa ang ilang ibutang sa pwesto. Apan lagi anaa na man kita sa ilawom sa demokrasya, kon naay katungod si Pedro magpapili, naa say katungod si Juan nga mobabag. Sa katapusan ang tingog sa katawhan ra man gihapon ang masunod,” Pe said
Comelec-7 Regional Director Temie Lambino said once they will receive Team Rama’s petition to disqualify Pe as candidate as councilor of the city’s south district for the May 13, 2013 local and national elections, they will immediately transmit the documents to the office of the clerk of Comelec En banc-Manila. —/BRP (FREEMAN)