CEBU CITY – Three candidates for barangay captain in Cebu and Negros Oriental won in the elections on Monday, October 30, but were not proclaimed due to their disqualification cases.
They were Eduardo Gumera of Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City, Cebu; Anthony John Apura of Barangay Valladolid, Carcar City, Cebu, and Mercedita Uy of Barangay San Jose, Negros Oriental.
Joaquin Niccolo Fernandez, administrative officer of the Commission on Election-Central Visayas (Comelec-7), said they will not be proclaimed pending the resolution of their disqualification cases.
“We have to verify first what are the grounds of their disqualifications. Although there is a suspension order, every disqualification case is lobbied in Manila. We have to wait what are the grounds and who will replace them...if we will be going with rule on succession or the second-place rule,” said Fernandez.
Fernandez added that the three candidates can only be proclaimed if their cases will be dismissed. It will be the Comelec en banc which will decide the disqualification cases, said Fernandez.
Since the three winning candidates will not be able to assume office pending their proclamation, an officer-in-charge (OIC) will be appointed to temporarily fill the void.
“Appointing an OIC is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Comelec. It will be the Department of the Interior and Local Government that will name the OICs,” said Fernandez.
Fernandez said that as to when the disqualification cases of the three winning candidates will be resolved will be up to the Comelec en banc.