Comelec thrashes petition to disqualify CDO congressional bet

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has thrashed a petition to disqualify an aspirant for a congressional seat here in next year’s midterm elections.

In an order dated Dec. 18, the poll body’s Second Division decreed that the petition against Carmen village chief Raineir Joaquin Uy’s candidacy for representative of the city’s first congressional district be withdrawn.

The order came a day after the Comelec law department, which earlier sought Uy’s disqualification from the race, asked that its Oct. 26 petition be withdrawn.

READ: Cagayan de Oro House aspirant faces Comelec disqualification case

The law department had accused Uy of padding the list of voters of Carmen village by issuing residency certifications to would-be applicants for voter registration.

Uy in turn, argued, among others, that it is incumbent upon the Comelec to verify if, indeed, the voter applicants have met the residency requirements. His 41-page verified answer came with over 7,000 affidavits from Carmen residents who decried the allegations of fraud in their voter registrations.

In seeking to withdraw the petition for Uy’s disqualification, the law department said it needs to reassess the documents and evidence for its case, and evaluate the case in its entirety “out of prudence and due diligence.”

This leaves no basis for the case against Uy, said the poll body’s Second Division.