Comelec urged to settle Lucena mayor's case

LUCENA CITY , Philippines  – Residents of this city have expressed eagerness to know the ruling of the Commission on Elections with regard to the legitimacy of the administration of Mayor Barbara “Ruby” Talaga who has been alleged to be disqualified from her post due to some technical issues.

Barbara, wife of former mayor Ramon Talaga, was proclaimed winner of the May 2010 elections.

However, rival candidate Philip Castillo and Vice Mayor Roderick Alcala have claimed that Barbara’s proclamation was invalid due to some irregularities.

Ramon was the one who originally ran for mayor but the Comelec disqualified him because he already served three terms.

Barbara substituted for her husband, but what Ramon reportedly filed was not his withdrawal of his certificate of candidacy but an ex-parte manifestation and motion for reconsideration in relation to the April 19, 2010 resolution of the Comelec’s first division which granted Castillo’s petition to cancel the certificate of candidacy of Ramon.

Some legal experts said the withdrawal of Ramon’s motion for reconsideration did not automatically translate to the withdrawal of his certificate of candidacy.

Barbara, they said, could not be considered a substitute for her husband but rather another candidate.

During the 2010 polls, Ramon got the highest number of votes, 44,099.

Meantime, in February, the Comelec’s second division ruled in favor of Barbara.

Alcala has filed a petition for intervention, claiming that based on the rules of succession, he should be proclaimed mayor.

The opposition said they are just waiting for the decision of the Comelec, before they decide whether or not they would bring the issue to the Supreme Court.