“I will be proclaimed at the central office of the Comelec in Intramuros, Manila,” said Crisostomo Garbo whom the Comelec declared the winner in the mayoral race for getting the second highest votes in the mayoral elections.
Morales was disqualified after the Comelec said he had been through three successive terms as mayor, the maximum allowed by law. The polls body dismissed his argument that he was merely on his first term as city mayor after Mabalacat was declared a chartered city in 2012.
The disqualification case was filed by Pyra Lucas, who had landed fourth in the mayoral elections.
Garbo issued the clarifi cation amid reports that Halili would replace Morales. “People should be told the truth,” he said.
"The Comelec en banc order is clear that I, as the one who got the second highest votes, would assume post. It is also clear in its order that the rule of succession that could favor Halili does not apply in this case. As a matter of fact, the Comelec order dismissed this scenario outright,” he said in a telephone interview.
This, even as Garbo told city hall workers, including casuals and job order personnel, to “stay put,” assuring them of continued support if they are doing their jobs.
“I am not confrontational. I just want to do my job as mandated by the people and I want all at city hall to do theirs. We must support each other. There are so many people needing our help. There are so many projects and programs that need to be done,” he stressed.
Morales has been mayor of Mabalacat since 1995, his term interrupted only briefly by political protests that worked to his advantage to allow him to remain in power as the country’s longest mayoral termer.
