Supreme Court allows Jalosjos, Mitra gubernatorial bids

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has allowed the gubernatorial bids of Romel Apolinario Jalosjos in Zamboanga Sibugay and Abraham Khalil Mitra in Palawan even after they were disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) both for lack of residency.

After a special session yesterday afternoon, the SC issued a status quo order enjoining the Comelec to let the two join the automated polls on Monday pending resolution of their separate petitions questioning the poll body’s decisions to disqualify them.

SC spokesman Midas Marquez said the Comelec was given 10 days from receipt of the order to comment on the petitions of Jalosjos and Mitra.

Jalosjos, son of former Zamboanga del Norte congressman and convicted rapist Romeo Jalosjos, appealed before the SC the Comelec order disqualifying him in the gubernatorial race in Zamboanga Sibugay for lack of residency.

Mitra also asked the SC to reverse the Comelec ruling disqualifying him from the gubernatorial race in Palawan also due to lack of residency requirement.

The poll body granted the petition of Antonio Gonzales and Orlando Balbon Jr., who alleged that Mitra is a resident of Puerto Princesa City whose residents no longer vote for Palawan governor when it ceased to become a component city of the province, but not of Aborlan town.

Mitra, son of the late former House Speaker Ramon Mitra, is pitted against businessman Jose Pepito Alvarez in the gubernatorial race. – With Jess Diaz