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[av_heading heading=’GOODBYE, MAYOR?’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY GLENDA S. TAYONA
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February 8, 2018
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Comelec disqualifies Lambunao’s Gonzales
ILOILO City – The Commission Elections’ (Comelec) First Division disqualified Mayor Jason Gonzales of Lambunao, Iloilo.
Gonzales was not a resident of Lambunao at the time he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) and ran for mayor in the May 2016 election, ruled the Comelec.
The poll body’s decision, however, is not yet final and executory, according to Gonzales who vowed to file a motion for reconsideration.
The mayor received his copy of the Comelec decision dated Feb. 2, 2018 on Feb. 6.
The disqualification complaint was filed by former Lambunao mayor Vicente Ramirez on November 2015 days after Gonzales filed his COC.
“We will file a motion for reconsideration and this will be heard by the Comelec en banc. All the commissioners will decide on this,” said Gonzales.
Gonzales was serving as councilor of Iloilo City but resigned on Oct. 30, 2015 after filing his COC for mayor of Lambunao.
He succeeded his father Reynor, a retired police general.
Reynor ended his third and final term as mayor of Lambunao in June 2016; he was barred by law from seeking a fourth consecutive term.
The younger Gonzales said he relocated and was already living in Lambunao for over two years prior to the filing of his COC.
Gonzalez also said he registered as voter of Lambunao in January 2015, one year and four months before the May 2016 election.
He expressed confidence that the Comelec en banc would reconsider the First Division’s ruling.
“I’ve been going home to Lambunao on a regular basis a year before ako nag-transfer voter’s registration,” said Gonzales.
COMPLAINT
In filing a disqualification case against Gonzales, Ramirez said, “The entry in respondent’s COC stating that he shall have been residing in Lambunao, Iloilo for a period of two years and five months up to the day before the May 9, 2016 election is false.”
At best, Ramirez claimed, Gonzales, “counting from Oct. 30, 2015, is a resident of Lambunao, Iloilo for (only) a period of six months and eight days up to the day before the 2016 elections.”
Other points Ramirez raised were:
* Lambunao, Iloilo could not be Gonzales’ domicile of origin because he was born in Ermita, Manila.
* By serving as city councilor of Iloilo City from 2010 to Oct. 30, 2015, Gonzales manifested his intention to retain Iloilo City as his domicile of choice.
* Gonzales did not have the intention to reside in Lambunao because he was never personally present thereat nor had he conducted himself in such a manner indicative of his intention to reside in the town, such as owning a real property or a house in the town.
According to Ramirez, who had served as Lambunao mayor for 15 years, not a few residents of Lambunao were questioning Gonzales’ residency.
“But they are afraid to speak up. Well, Bugok Ramirez is not afraid to speak up,” he said.
Gonzales ran for mayor under the Liberal Party. His rivals were his uncle Camilo Gonzales of the PDP-Laban and Victor Lacuesta of the United Nationalist Alliance, the running mate of Ramirez.
Gonzales had belittled Ramirez’s complaint. The arguments were “very weak,” he said in 2015.
“Residency is also established by the intent to transfer. In my case, the fact that I resigned from the city council is the strongest evidence and indication of my intent to transfer domicile,” he stressed.
Gonzales also said, “My parents, my paternal grandmother and family are all residing in Lambunao. That could help establish my domicile.”
As to his “physical presence” in Lambunao, Gonzales said he had attended lots of events and speaking engagements in schools there.
Gonzalez also said property ownership as basis of a person’s residency in a place was flimsy.
“Tanan gali nga wala gapanag-iya sang duta sa isa ka lugar indi gale pwede mangin residente? Kon informal settler ikaw, indi ka gali botante kay indi ka residente?” he said.
Still, Gonzales said, he actually owned a property in Lambunao./PN
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