Quezon lawmaker seeks rival's disqualification

MANILA, Philippines - Rep. Danilo Suarez of Quezon’s third district has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify his opponent, former governor Eduardo Rodriguez.

“For the benefit of new voters and those who may have forgotten, Rodriguez was found guilty and sentenced to serve time for insurance fraud by Judge Bob Bowers of the Los Angeles (California) Country Superior Court,” Suarez said in a statement yesterday.

He said it is on record in the LA court that his opponent faked the death of his wife so he could claim insurance.

“He knew fully well that there was no basis for his claim, and that his wife was just hiding somewhere, breathing and living,” he said.

He pointed out that for him, the fact that Rodriguez committed the offense in the United States and has served his sentence is immaterial and irrelevant.

“For me, the issue is that Rodriguez was even capable of committing fraud for personal gain. I am all for a second chance, but I also believe that the moral qualities of those who seek public office are not subject to compromise,” he said.

Suarez, a staunch ally of President Arroyo, chided the Liberal Party (LP) for fielding the former Quezon governor against him.   

He said the LP, which claims to subject its candidates to the highest standards of morality, honesty and integrity, has apparently failed to check the background of its gubernatorial candidate and might have relied entirely upon the say-so of its provincial chairman, incumbent Gov. Rafael Nantes.

At the same time, Suarez urged the Comelec to decide on his petition to disqualify Rodriguez as soon as possible.

He said the Omnibus Election Code provides that one who has been found guilty of “moral turpitude” cannot run for public office.

“Fraud is well within the definition of moral turpitude,” he said.

In a related development, Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra, who is running for governor in his province, said it is his opponent, billionaire businessman Jose Alvarez, who is not from Palawan.

“Everyone knows that the Mitras are Palaweños. My father (the late Speaker Ramon Mitra Jr.) was first elected Palawan congressman in 1955. It is my opponent who is not from our province. He is from Cagayan de Oro City,” he said.

A Comelec division has disqualified Mitra for allegedly failing to establish his residence in Aborlan town, where he transferred in March last year after Puerto Princesa became a highly urbanized city, and as such, its residents were no longer entitled to vote for provincial officials.

Mitra said he has in fact built a house in Aborlan.

“My opponent wants to decide the gubernatorial contest in Manila rather than in the barangay communities of our province,” he said.

He vowed to appeal his disqualification with the full Comelec and elevate his case to the Supreme Court if he loses his appeal.