Comelec junks case vs Hagedorn

MANILA, Philippines - The First Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) denied yesterday a disqualification case against Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn for “lack of merit.”

In a resolution, First Division Commissioners Rene Sarmiento, Armando Velasco and Gregorio Larrazabal junked the argument of petitioner Bienvenido Rodriguez that Hagedorn is not eligible to run for Puerto Princesa mayor in the May polls.

Rodriguez argued that Hagedorn has already served for three consecutive terms when he won in the 2002 recall election and in regular elections in 2004 and 2007, so he should be covered by the constitutionally mandated three-term limit.

Citing the case of Socrates vs Comelec, the commissioners ruled that the “winner in the recall election cannot be charged or credited with the full term of three years for purposes of counting the consecutiveness of an elective official’s term in office.”       – Sheila Crisostomo