Negros Occidental town mayor, opponent each facing disqualification cases

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – A town mayor in Negros Occidental and his challenger are facing disqualification complaints with the Commission on Elections.

Facing disqualification are re-electionist Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco and his opponent, Ma. Luisa Dela Cruz.

Jaojoco said  the basis for the disqualification complaint filed against him by the Dela Cruz camp was his citizenship.

He said he already renounced his American citizenship prior to the 2013 elections. “I have never used my American passport after I renounced it and whenever I go abroad, I have been using my Filipino passport. I have been very true to my renunciation,” he explained.

Dela Cruz, on the other hand, is facing disqualification due to her residence. Complainant Ryan Bedonia, second cousin of Dela Cruz’s husband, said the mayoralty bet had not been a resident of the town for more than a year already and that she has been residing in Bacolod City.

Both of their cases are set to be heard by the Comelec central office, with the Dela Cruz’s case set on December 12, and for Jaojoco on December 16.

The two had faced each other in the 2013 elections, after which the defeated Dela Cruz filed a petition for recount, the case of which was dismissed by the San Carlos City Regional Trial Court when Jaojoco won the recount.