Supreme Court gives relief to 'disqualified' Lipa City mayor

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has stopped the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from carrying out its decision disqualifying Lipa City Mayor Meynardo Sabili from the mayoral election last May 10 due to the residency issue.

In a resolution, the SC issued a status ante order stopping the poll body from implementing its resolution last Aug. 17 canceling Sabili’s certificate of candidacy for alleged lack of residency in the city.

This, after the SC unanimously voted during a full-court session to grant temporary relief sought by Sabili after finding merit in his petition.

In his petition, Sabili alleged that the Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion in affirming the Jan. 26, 2010 resolution of its Second Division that granted the disqualification case filed by a certain Florencio Librea despite his victory over his rival, Oscar Gozos.

Sabili argued in a separate 45-page petition that his proclamation and assumption into office ended all summary proceedings for disqualification and commences the full-blown trial in regular court where evidence could be presented and verified by the parties and the court.

He insisted that he was qualified to run for mayor, as he submitted as proof a certification issued by Dominador Honrade, chairman of Barangay Pinagtong-ulan, that he has been a resident of the barangay since 2007. He said the Comelec ignored this certification.