Supreme Court backs delisting of Osmeña cousin

CEBU CITY — It’s all over for Stephen Clint Osmeña.

The Supreme Court has denied his petition to temporarily set aside a Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision delisting him as a mayoral candidate here under the Puwersa ng Masa.

In a May 10 decision, a copy of which was provided reporters by the rival BO-PK party, the Supreme Court said Clint did not sufficiently show that the Comelec acted with grave abuse of discretion in rendering the decision.

Clint said he still has to meet with his lawyers on what to do next.

But with the election today and offices closed on weekends, there was probably little or nothing that Clint could do to salvage his candidacy.

"We were shocked. I was banking on them to give us a chance. I feel like I have been robbed of something," Clint said.

Clint said he will not allow his wife to run in his stead, contrary to earlier rumors. "I have never said yes to that and it is not an option," he said.

With Clint delisted, votes cast for him will be considered stray votes.

BO-PK mayoralty candidate Tomas Osmeña, a distant cousin of Clint, filed the disqualification petition, saying that Clint was not a registered voter of the city. — Freeman News Service