MikeLigalig.com

Published in the Bohol Chronicle

*******
Third district congressional bet and former Gov. Rene Relampagos is facing another disqualification petition filed at the Commission on Elections yesterday.

The petition was filed by one Wilhelmino Gamus, a resident and registered voter of barangay Canmanico, Valencia town.

In his petition, Gamus cited that under the law, "a candidate for Congress must be a registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected and a resident therein for one year immediately preceding the election," as stated under Sec. 6, Article VI of the Philippine Constitution.

It stated further that, "The term 'residence,' as used in the law prescribing the qualifications for suffrage and for elective office, means the same thing as 'domicile,' which imports not only an intention to reside in a fixed place but also personal presence in that place, coupled with conduct indicative of such intention."

According to Gamus, Relampagos is not qualified to run as Congressman since "he is not an actual and personal resident of Poblacion Ubos, Loay for a period of one year," as evidenced by a certification of Poblacion Ubos barangay captain Pablito Solideo, a copy of which was attached to the petition.

Gamus claimed in his petition that Relampagos "has no actual residence" in Poblacion Ubos, Loay since the house which he (Relampagos) indicated in his certificate of candidacy (COC) as his residence, located along 24 Poblacion Ubos, Loay, does not belong to Relampagos but to one Jescelo Adiong, as evidenced by a barangay certification attached to the petition.

A certification was also obtained by the petitioner (Gamus) from the office of the Loay Assessor that Relampagos "does not have actual landholdings in Poblacion Ubos or even in Loay town.

"In fact, the current registration papers of his motor vehicles at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) indicate his postal and residential address as 69 San Jose Street, Tagbilaran City, and not as Poblacion Ubos, Loay," the petitioner stated further.

According to Gamus, based on the said documents the respondent (Relampagos) has "clearly nothing that indicates actual, physical or personal residence in Poblacion Ubos, Loay" that would clearly establish his "unequivocal intention" to have Poblacion Ubos, Loay as his domicile.

"Instead the documents clearly show that he has not abandoned his domicile in Tagbilaran City, as required by law" the petitioner stated further.

Preliminary hearing is set by Comelec Provincial Elections Supervisor Veronico Petalcorin tomorrow.

It may be recalled that 3rd district board member aspirant lawyer Salvador Diputado has filed a separate disqualification petition and perjury raps against Relampagos.

Diputado, who is son-in-law to Relampagos' opponent in the 3rd district congressional race senior board member Dionisio Balite, cited in his disqualification petition that based on Relampagos' COC, the period of residence was falsely stated.

RENE: WRONG FACTS AGAIN

Former Gov. Relampagos said that for the second time his political detractors are giving wrong information in the latest complaint aiming to disqualify him in the congressional race.

He said that he and his wife, Imee Adiong own a house in Poblacion, Loay town which was donated to them by the late Judge Adiong, his father-in-law.

He clarified that there are two lots in the property, one with their house and the other vacant lot owned by Jescelo Adiong, his brother-in-law.

He said that they should instead question if congressionables Alexander Lim or Adam Jala have houses in the third district while the residence of Board Member Dionisio Balite in Valencia town was already abandoned.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=83.0