SC dismisses poll protest vs Bacolod mayor

BACOLOD – The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the electoral protest filed by losing mayoral candidate Monico Puentevella against Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

In a one-page resolution dated Nov. 21, 2017 and received by the city mayor’s office recently, the high tribunal said Puentevella failed to comply with certain requirements.

In a full session, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had earlier affirmed the Aug. 18, 2016 ruling of its first division dismissing Puentevella’s electoral protest.

“This court has carefully reviewed the allegations, issues and arguments raised in the instant petition for certiorari…and notes that the same lacked the required docket and other fees… and a duplicate original or certified true copy of the assailed…Comelec resolution,” the SC ruling stated.

“Under Section 5, Rule 64 of the Rules of Court, the failure of the petitioner to comply with any of the foregoing requirements shall be sufficient ground for the dismissal of the petition,” it said.

Leonardia was proclaimed winner in the 2016 elections after he garnered 120,231 votes or a margin of 22,238 over Puentevella’s 97,993 votes.

Leonardia said the filing of the election protest was “a lame attempt at facesaving.”

“This is just to keep the hopes of their supporters alive and to have a semblance of a fight,” he said.