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[av_heading heading=’Jing-jing may lose post in brgy council’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – Any barangay official convicted by the court may be disqualified from holding office, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“Pwede mag-file disqualification case sa korte. There should be due process for disqualification,” said Assistant City Election Officer Jonathan Sayno.
Anyone can file the disqualification case, he added.
A councilman of Barangay Monica Blumentritt, City Proper, Jesus “Jing-jing” Espinosa Jr., was convicted for frustrated murder with finality by the Supreme Court in 2012 yet.
But the records of his case that were remanded by the high court to Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 31 here were misplaced due to topsy-turvy filing. Because of this, his imprisonment was not carried out.
Espinosa ran for councilman of Barangay Monica Blumentritt in the Oct. 29, 2013 barangay election. He won.
Sayno said Comelec could not refuse those filing their certificates of candidacy.
“Ministerial ang function sang Comelec when it comes sa pagbaton sang certificates of candidacy kag may prescribed period man nga pwede magreklamo,” he explained.
Espinosa was charged with frustrated murder on Jan. 21, 2003 with two others – Robinito “Bord” Malaga and Cris Rudy Balidiong – for the shooting of Mark Serra, a resident of Barangay Monica Blumentritt, on Nov. 24, 2002.
Balidiong died during the pendency of the case. On June 20, 2005, the three of them were convicted by RTC, Branch 31.
Espinosa appealed his conviction. The case reached the Court of Appeals and all the way to the Supreme Court.
Espinosa was given a prison sentence of eight years maximum as accomplice to the crime while Malaga got a maximum prison sentence of 14 years as the principal accused.
A source at Branch 31 said the court may likely act on Espinosa’s case next week.
RTC Branch 31 presiding judge Rene Hortillo already retired. A new judge was recently assigned to the Branch – Presiding Judge Yolanda Panaguiton-Gavino of RTC, Branch 34./PN
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