SC halts proclamation of winner in Agoo, La Union mayoralty race
THE Supreme Court has issued an order enjoining the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from implementing its order naming Stefanie Eriguel-Calongcagon as the new mayor of Agoo, La Union, after canceling the certification of candidacy (COC) of winning candidate Frank Ong Sibuma upon learning that he falsified his place of residence in his COC filed last year.
In a two-page resolution issue on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, the Court en banc granted the petition filed by Sibuma for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and status quo ante order (SQAO) to stop the respondent Comelec from implementing its assailed May 13, 2022 Resolution in SPA No. 21-172 and the corresponding Writ of Execution dated June 29, 2022.
“Accordingly, the Comelec directive to the Municipal Board of Canvassers [MBOC] of the Municipality of Agoo, La Union to reconvene at the Session Hall, 8th Floor, Palacio del Gobernador, General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila, on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and thereafter is restrained,” the Court said.
The SC said the TRO and SQAO will take effect immediately and to continue until further orders from the Court.
The Court noted that the TRO and SQAO were issued without giving due course to the petition.
Aside from the Comelec, also named respondents in the case are Alma Panelo and Calongcagon.
Likewise, the Court ordered the respondents to submit their comment to the petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice.
Last Tuesday, the Comelec’s Second Division granted the petition filed by Panelo to cancel the COC of Sibuma for Agoo mayor over issues surrounding his residency.
Panelo alleged that Sibuma committed material misrepresentation in filing his COC when he claimed to be residing in Agoo for a year and three months before the May 9 elections when in fact he is a resident of the neighboring town of Aringay.
The Municipal Board of Canvassers proclaimed Calongcagon mayor at 2 p.m. of July 5, 2022.