MALOLOS CITY—Bulacan mayors hailed the impartiality of the Commission and Elections (Comelec) in the disqualifi cation of the mayor of Norzagaray last week.
They also noted the speed of the decision of the Comelec first division which was released within the first 100 days in office of disqualifi ed Mayor Alfredo Germar.
“This is unprecedented in speed and disposition of the case,” said Mayor Christian Natividad of Malolos City, who, like Germar ran under the banner of the Liberal Party last election.
Natividad added that the Comelec deserved praise in its decision, however, he said that the Commission must also be wary of the rights of the protestee.
The same was echoed by Mayor Ambrosio Cruz of Guiguinto who ran under the banner of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) in the May polls.
Cruz also recognized Comelec’s impartiality and stressed that “what is important is the ruling should be fair to all concerned.” Last week, the Comelec First Division disqualifi ed Norzagaray Mayor Alfredo Germar for massive vote buying in the last May’s elections.
The case stemmed from the charges filed by former Mayor Feliciano Legazpi a day after the election.
The charges were based on confiscated evidence that included more than P500,000 worth of cash contained in individual small brown envelopes with sample ballots for candidates of the Liberal Party.
Along with the confiscated money, Legazpi was also able to consolidate over 200 affidavits from local voters that detailed massive vote-buying. In a telephone interview the other day, Legazpi also praised the Comelec’s decision and noted that it vindicated his loss in the last election.
He said “the first division’s decision only proves that there massive vote-buying in our town last elections and it is not just hearsay.” However, the first division’s decision is not likely to benefi t Legazpi as the Comelec followed the rules of succession based on the local government code of 1991. This means that the elected vice mayor of Norzagaray town will take over the position of mayor once it becomes final and executor.
For Legazpi though, it was partly a consolation because incumbent vice mayor and now incoming mayor, Arthur Legazpi is his son.
