The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed a petition seeking to disqualify the candidacy of Antonio Agapito “AA” Legarda Jr., brother of senatorial aspirant Loren Legarda.
The petition, filed by a certain Salvador Ungsod, sought to declare Legarda a nuisance candidate and deny his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for his congressional bid in Antique in the upcoming May 2022 elections.
Legarda looks to replace his sister, Loren, who is a senatorial candidate for the May 2022 polls.
In the resolution dated March 8, the Comelec's Former First Division "resolved to dismiss" the petition. Ungsod, a resident of Belison town, questioned Legarda for adopting a nickname that of his sister Loren.
The resolution stated that the petitioner failed to attach a proof of service or an affidavit of service which is a mandatory requirement in filing a petition.
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It added that Comelec Resolution no. 9523 provides that the petitioner shall before filing the petition, furnish a copy of the petition, through personal service to the respondent.
"Settled is the rule that failure to comply with a mandatory requirement warrants the dismissal of the petition," the decision read.