Strike out?

Congressional, mayoralty bets in Cebu Province face disqualification petitions

Sonny Osmeña, Antonio Yapha’s residency questioned while conviction for malversation cited as ground to seek the nullification of Gilbert Wagas’ COC

COMPOSTELA Mayor Joel Quiño filed a petition to cancel the certificate of candidacy (COC) of Gilbert Wagas, who is in jail after being convicted of malversation in 2001.

Wagas, former mayor of Compostela, filed his COC through a representative as he is in Muntinlupa, serving a jail term of 20 to 40 years. He intends to run for Congress, representing the fifth district of Cebu Province.

Former senator John Henry Osmeña, who is running for mayor in Toledo City, and his runningmate, former second district congressman of Cebu Antonio Yapha, are also the subject of similar complaints.

The petitions to nullify the COCs of Osmeña and Yapha alleged that the two have not complied with the required residency of at least one year.

Quiño, in his petition, said that since Wagas was convicted he is no longer a voter of Compostela and is no longer qualified to run for public office.

Pending

Former Compostela mayor Ritchie Wagas defended his brother by saying Gilbert has pending petitions in relation to the malversation case before the Supreme Court.

Ritchie accused Quiño of being the “puppet” of Danao Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III. He said Quiño most likely filed the petition against Gilbert on Durano’s orders.

In a Feb. 1, 2010 order, the Regional Trial Court Branch 55 in Mandaue City upheld the December 2009 decision of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court, removing Gilbert from Compostela’s list of voters.

Ritchie will face Quiño once again in the 2013 mayoral race in Compostela.

If allowed to run, Gilbert will face Ace Durano, Nito’s son, and Alfie Pepito of One Cebu.

Residence

In Toledo City, Election Officer Michael Angelo Sarno said the petitions ac- cused Yapha and Osmeña of not actually residing in the city.

Lina Dela Peña Jalover, Georgie Huiso and Velvet Barguin Zamora said in their petition that Osmeña transferred residence from Cebu City to Ibo, Toledo City last April yet.

They said Osmeña does not live in a house he declared as his residence in Barangay Poblacion, but only holds meetings and gatherings there.

“The physical presence of respondent is only seen somewhere in Barangay Poblacion, Toledo City in a house, where respondent held political meetings with some group of men … in the month of September of this year,” read their petition.

Congressman

Osmeña said it is im- possible for him not to be a resident of Toledo City as he was congressman of the third district of Cebu from 1995 to 1998.

He said his lawyer will file an answer to the petition today.

Aside from Toledo City, the third congressional district also includes the towns of Aloguinsan, Asturias, Balamban, Barili, Pinamungajan, Tuburuan and Tabuelan.

The petition against Yapha was filed by Noe Neo and Cecilia Apurado last the Wednesday.

The petitioners said Yapha is a resident of Poblacion, Pinamungajan, where his wife is running for mayor. “The respondent cannot have two residences for purposes of the election laws,” they added.

Yapha transferred residence to Poblacion, Toledo City last May.