The Supreme Courtroom constructing in Manila —File photograph from the Philippine Every day Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — Dismissed Mandaue Metropolis Mayor Jonas Cortes appealed on Thursday to the Supreme Courtroom (SC) over the Fee on Elections (Comelec) choice to cancel his certificates of candidacy (COC) for the Could 2025 elections.
The Comelec ruling stemmed from a petition filed by a non-public citizen on October 24, alleging that Cortes dedicated materials misrepresentation on his COC.
READ: Comelec stops Mandaue mayor’s bid for reelection
The disqualified reelectionist filed a petition for certiorari on the SC in opposition to the ballot physique’s choice, alleging it constituted grave abuse of discretion and violated his constitutional rights.
In response to Cortes, Comelec allegedly mishandled the petition in opposition to his COC by treating it as a case on his eligibility to run. Such issues, he added, needs to be addressed solely after elections and for proclaimed winners.
Article continues after this commercial
Moreover, Cortes maintained that his COC was filed in good religion and freed from any patent defects.
Article continues after this commercial
He harassed that his disqualification was based mostly on a call by the Workplace of the Ombudsman, which was not closing when he filed his COC, making the cancellation of his candidacy unjustified.
Moreover, he claimed that the ballot physique’s ruling violated his proper to due course of and the voters’s proper to freely select their leaders. He added that election legal guidelines don’t permit the Comelec to disqualify candidates preemptively on non-final grounds.
In his petition, Cortes needed the SC to reverse the Comelec choice, situation a established order ante order to revive his standing as an eligible candidate, and make clear that Part 78 of the Omnibus Election Code doesn’t authorize ineligibility proceedings earlier than an election.
READ: Rally held as dismissed Mandaue mayor appeals COC cancellation
Final December 23, supporters of Cortes staged a rally in entrance of the previous Cebu Worldwide Conference Heart to oppose the Comelec ruling.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please strive once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
Cortes, himself, was additionally current in the course of the rally, accompanied by his household, and vowed to “struggle till the tip.“
