'Gray area' cited in acceptance of Julius Sayson's withdrawal

BACOLOD Commission on Elections (Comelec) officer lawyer Mavil Majarucon Sia cited a gray area in the decision made by the Law Department of Comelec in accepting the withdrawal of YES Bacolod mayoralty candidate Julius Sayson.

Sia said that the Law Department could have overlooked the fact that Julius Sayson filed his withdrawal of the certificate of candidacy via courier LBC and not personally before her office.

She said she will just inquire from Director Ismeralda Ladra about the order and its validity dated December 26, 2012, which was received by her office Monday.

The letter was addressed to Julius Sayson while her office was just furnished with a copy.

In its decision dated December 26, the Law Department of the Comelec Manila earlier informed Julius that it has received his affidavit of withdrawal.

It was stated in the order that the affidavit of withdrawal filed by Julius Sayson was in conformity with all the requirements laid down by the Comelec and, since his affidavit was accepted, his name has been deleted and cancelled from the list of mayoralty candidates.

"We do not know how to treat this for now until such time that we could get a clarification from the Law department," she said.

Majarucon-Sia said she will get in touch with the Law Department today to ask for clarification regarding its letter addressed to Julius Sayson.

She recalled that in her letter to the Comelec, she indicated that they received the affidavit of Julius Sayson only through LBC. She also informed them of a pending petition for disqualification filed against him by Bacolod Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson at the Comelec First Division, she added.

Majarucon-Sia said the Law Department may not be aware of the petition for disqualification filed against Julius Sayson, since it did not coordinate with the First Division.

Asked for his reaction, Vice Mayor Sayson said they are happy with the decision and they hope to be furnished a copy.

They are just waiting for the decision of the disqualification case he filed against his namesake which is pending in the First Division of the Comelec, he added.