Batangas mayor loses post

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has unseated Renato Federico and declared Osmundo Maligaya as the duly elected mayor of Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

In a 25-page decision, the Comelec annulled the proclamation of Federico and ordered the Special Municipal Board of Canvassers to convene and proclaim Maligaya as mayor of Sto. Tomas.

“Maligaya being the only valid mayoralty candidate in the municipality of Sto. Tomas, during the first automated elections should now be proclaimed and take the reins as mayor of the place,” the Comelec said.

The Comelec said Maligaya turned out to be the only legitimate mayoralty candidate in the municipality of Sto. Tomas during the May 2010 elections since Federico’s candidacy was invalid.

“With the invalid substitution of Edna Sanchez by Federico and the illegality of the proceedings of the Municipal Board of Canvassers of Sto. Tomas, Batangas in generating the second certification of canvass of votes and proclamation, the annulment of the proclamation of Federico is in order,” the Comelec said.

Several days before the May 2010 elections, Batangas gubernatorial candidate Armando Sanchez succumbed to a heart attack prompting his wife, Edna, to withdrew her mayoralty bid in Sto. Tomas to seek the gubernatorial seat.

Federico then filed his candidacy as replacement for Edna.

Maligaya, however, filed an electoral protest questioning the validity of Federico as substitute candidate for Edna.