For 3rd district of Bohol: LP bet’s withdrawal legal—Comelec

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Provincial Election Supervisor Eliseo Labaria declared that the withdrawal of Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan from the congressional race in the 3rd district was in order.

Labaria issued the statement to correct insinuations, allegedly from City Mayor Dan Lim, that the withdrawal can only happen on either the candidate’s demise or when he becomes physically disabled.

The Comelec official said any candidate can withdraw at any time before election day for whatever personal or party reasons, but he could no longer be replaced if done after the deadline set by the poll body.

Labaria clarified that the only acceptable reasons for substitution after the deadline on December 21 last year are death and physical incapacity of the candidate, in which case the substitute must have the same family name of the original candidate.

Candidacy withdrawn for any reason can only merit a substitution when done anytime on or before the deadline set by the Comelec. In the case of Calipusan’s withdrawal, the documents are complete for Comelec’s approval, Labaria clarified, adding that there is no other way that anybody else can go out of his way to retract for Calipusan the withdrawn candidacy for a congressional seat.

The Comelec can only entertain the actions and reasons manifested by the candidate himself and that it needs neither hypothetical contentions nor analysis from third parties. Any reason or no reason at all is actually required to squeeze further the candidate who has already decided to back out from the elections, said Labaria.

Reacting on Calipusan’s withdrawal, Gov. Edgar Chatto said the LP has regrets on Calipusan’s decision having lost a slot in the slate. The governor said that, while he still at the hospital, he talked with Calipusan and asked the latter to wait for him to get home before proceeding so that they could study further the withdrawal plan.

However, Calipusan already made up his mind by then and was catching up the timetable, especially that his town has to prepare for the first visit of the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines before end of the month.

So, Chatto advised him to inform the national central office of LP. He also explained that Calipusan followed the process from getting the CONA from LP-national up to his role in the selection of line up in the 3rd district and signing the CONAs of mayoralty candidates. The governor said some mayors frankly informed Calipusan that they preferred to support Yap, but then Calipusan still signed their CONAs.

Reports said Calipusan asked for a survey in the barangays on his standing against Yap, and the results by end of 2012 showed the electors were on Yap’s side.

Chatto further said Calipusan admitted to him that “based on extensive consultation in Loboc, and with key persons—including special friends—it was foreseen that the mayor would be having a hard time defeating Yap on May 13.” (FREEMAN)