Comelec disqualifies long-serving mayor

By Ding Cervantes 

MABALACAT, Pampanga – The Commission on Elections has disqualified the mayor of this city, reputed to be the longest serving in the country.

In a 17-page resolution signed by all commissioners, the poll body recently granted the petition seeking the cancellation of the certificate of candidacy (COC) of Marino Morales and ordered the local board of canvassers to administer the oath of Cris Garbo, who obtained the second highest number of votes,  as new city mayor.

The Comelec said Morales was disqualified from running in last year’s elections because he had served for three consecutive terms from 2007 to 2013.

The full commission noted that the first division of the Comelec, in its ruling issued last Aug. 3, cancelled the COC and ordered the local board of canvassers to annul the proclamation of Morales. Morales was proclaimed after garnering 40,174 votes against Garbo’s 17,710.

In a telephone interview, Morales said he would seek relief from the Supreme Court.

Garbo for his part, said he would file a motion for the immediate implementation of the Comelec ruling.

Morales was elected mayor of Mabalacat in 1995. He was removed from office months before the 2007 elections, but regained his seat. He argued that while he had served for three terms as mayor, he served only for a term as city mayor.

Mabalacat became a city only on July 21, 2012 by virtue of Republic Act 10164.