BusinessMirror
Tuesday, Mardr L9,ml9
Comelecjunks
Andaya-Eusebio's
bid forCamSur
legislative seat
BY SAMUEL P. MEDENILLA
t @s,n_medenilla
FFIHE Commission on Elec-
I tions (Comelec), sitting en
I banc, has junked the appeal
of former Pasig City Mayor Maribel
Andaya-Eusebio to be recognized
as a registered voter in the second
district of Camarines Sur, thereby
disqualifying her in tunning for a
congressional seat in the province.
In a resoldtion, the Comelec, Ied
by Chairman SheriffAbas, affirmed
the earlier decision of the electoral
watchdog's first division, which also
found her guilty of "false mate_rial
representation" when she claimed
in her certificate of candidacy (COC)
thatshewas aregisteredvoter of Ba-
rangay Puro Batiain the municipality
of Libmanan, Camarines Sur
Given her act of material mis-
representation, Comelec Commis-
sioner Marlon Casquejo-one of
the five commissioners who con-
curredwith the decision-saidAn-
daya-Eusebio should be promptly
o Pecln -A3t/
investigated andlhen appropri.
ate, prosecuted for.ommitting an
election offense pun ishable under
the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).
"The Commission has a constitu-
tionaldutyto investigate, andwhere,
ailpropriate, prosecute cases involv_
iirg election offenses. Hence, the
election offense aspect of this case
shouldbe referred to the [Comelec's]
law department for the conduct of
preliminary investigation for pos
sible violation of election laws, par
ticularly SecLion 262, in relation to
Section 74, of the OEC, pursuant
to the autiority of the commission
to motu propio initiaLe I complaint
Jor t.hEsaid offense," Casquejo said
in his concurring opinion.
Andaya-Eusebio. a fo rmer may_
or of Pasig City and the sisler of
HouseAppropriations Committee
Chairman Rep. Rolando And ava
Jr., had wanted her vote r regist ra-
tion records transferred to Ba ran_
gay Puro Batia from Pasig Cjtylast
year so she could run for a consres_
sional seat in Ca marines Sur'JSe.-
ond District against reelectionist
Rep. Luis Raymund Villa fuerte J r.
With Andaya-Eusebio's d isqualifi
cation, Villafuerte is running un_
opposed this m idterm elections.
Her request Lo have her voter
registration records tra nsferredwas
denied by the Comele( s Election Req-
istration Board in Ocroberlast yeai.