Comelec orders Ecija mayor to step down

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday ordered the ouster of the sitting mayor of Jaen, Nueva Ecija.

In a six page order, the Comelec’s 2nd Division, through Commissioners Socorro Inting and Antonio Kho Jr, issued a Writ of Preliminary Injunction ordering Antonio Prospero Esquivel to step down.

The poll body also directed Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año “to implement and execute the writ of preliminary injunction.”

Esquivel was also ordered to peacefully turn over the mayorship position to former Jaen Mayor Sylvia Austria.

The respondent judge who caused the recount of the election protest in the mayoralty race, Angelo Perez, was told to cease and desist from implementing his orders ousting Austria from office.

Austria was ordered to post a bond of P100,000 to effect the injunction order.

Austria questioned before the Comelec the takeover of Esquivel as municipal mayor, saying it was tainted with fraud and illegality.

In a 36-page petition for certiorari and prohibition, Austria asked the Comelec to issue writs declaring Esquivel’s oath null and void ab initio, among others, for lack of basis.

Perez ruled that Austria’s proclamation as winner was null and void after concluding that Esquivel garnered 18,737 votes to take the lead.

In May 2019, the municipal board of canvassers proclaimed Austria the winner, getting 20,815 votes against Esquivel’s 18,461 votes.