Bataan mayor’s proclamation recalled

BALANGA CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has declared the proclamation of a town mayor as null and void for alleged failure to follow procedures in the disposition of contested returns and certificate of canvass  that should be strictly observed by the municipal board of canvassers.

In a nine-page resolution of the Comelec Special First Division presided by Commissioner Resurreccion Borra with members Commissioners Florentino Tuason and Romeo Brawner on June 26, the poll body said the action of Samal Municipal Board is void ab initio as it proclaimed re-electionist Rolando Tigas as the winning candidate without waiting for the ruling of the Commission on the appeal of petitioners, Roseller Navarro and Aida Macalinao.

Records showed that the Municipal Board of Canvassers in Samal town, Bataan issued its ruling on the election returns contested by petitioners on May 16.

On the same day, petitioners filed their Consolidated Notice of Appeal and within five days filed the instant petition on May 21.

The Special First Division said despite receipt of the notice of appeal, the Board, with undue haste, proceeded to proclaim Rolando Tigas for mayor of Samal, Bataan in the May 14 elections.