Pansamantalang pinatigil ng Korte Suprema (SC) ang Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa pagpapatupad ng resolusyon nitong Mayo 13, 2022 na nagkansela sa certificate of candidacy (COC) ni Frank Ong Sibuma noong nakaraang May 9 mayoralty election sa Agoo, La Union.
Sa isang resolusyon na naglalaman ng temporary restraining order (TRO) at status quo ante order (SQAO), epektibong isinantabi ng SC pansamantala ang proklamasyon ng Comelec noong Martes, Hulyo 5, kay Stefanie Ann Eriguel Calongcagon bilang alkalde ng Agoo bayan.
Base sa paliwanag, ang Status quo ante “is the state of affairs that preceded the onset of controversy.” Na pangkalahatang tumutukoy sa “the last actual peaceful and uncontested situation that precedes a controversy.”
Ang TRO with SQAO ay inilabas ng SC habang nasa full court session. Ito ay ipinamahagi sa mga mamamahayag ng SC’s public information office (PIO) nitong Miyerkules, July 6.
Ang SC ay umakto base sa petition na isinampa ni Sibuma.
Sinasabi sa naturang resolusyon: “Require the respondents (Comelec, Alma L. Panelo and Calongcagon) to comment on the petition (filed by Sibuma) within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice. “Issue a TRO and SQAO, effective immediately and continuing until further orders from the Court, enjoining respondent Comelec from implementing its assailed Resolution dated May 13, 2022 in SPA No. 21-172 (DC) and the corresponding Writ of Execution dated June 29, 2022.
“Accordingly, the Comelec directive to the Municipal Board of Canvassers of the Municipality of Agoo, La Union to reconvene… on Tuesday, July 5, 2022… is restrained.”
Si Sibuma na tumakbo sa ilalim ng People’s Reform Party ay nakuha ng 21,364 votes laban kay Calongcagon’s 16,603 votes.
Naiproklama si Sibuma ng Municipal Board of Canvassers (MBoC) bilang nanalong alkalde sa kabila ng nakapending na petisyon na “disqualification” na isinampa ni Panelo.
Sa kaniyang petisyon, si Sibuma umano ay nakagawa ng material misrepresentation sa kaniyang residence na labag sa Section 78 of the Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, the Omnibus Election Code na sinusugan ng Comelec.
Sa isang resolution petsang May 13, 2022, ipinasya ng Comelec: “Wherefore, premises considered, the COMMISSION (Second Division) RESOLVED, as it hereby resolves, to grant the instant Petition. The Certificate of Candidacy of Respondent Frank Ong Sibuma for the position of Mayor in connection with the 2022 NLE is hereby cancelled.”
