Comelec unseats Pangasinan town mayor over citizenship

By Eva Visperas

BASISTA, Pangasinan – The Commission on Elections has annulled the proclamation of the mayor of this town over his citizenship.

In a 15-page resolution promulgated Jan. 27, the poll body unseated Manolito de Leon and declared Jocelyn Perez as the duly elected mayor.

Presiding Commissioner Elias Yusoph and Commissioners Luie Tito Guia and Arthur Lim signed the resolution, which Perez received on Feb. 11.

The resolution said De Leon, who was naturalized as an American citizen, availed himself of repatriation under Republic Act 9925 on Dec. 3, 2008.

On Oct. 17, 2009, he executed the Oath of Renunciation of his foreign citizenship.

“He is qualified to run and seek local elective position. However, his act of using his American passport on Sept. 10, 2010 and June 26, 2011 or before the 2013 elections barred him from running and holding public office. He reverted to his earlier status of being a dual citizen,” the resolution stated.  

The Comelec gave De Leon five days from receipt of the resolution to file his motion for reconsideration.