Court knocks out bid of boxing promoter

BOXING promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud’s political ambition has suffered a blow. And he doesn’t even have a mattress to fall on—at least not in Cordova.

The Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Consolacion-Cordova struck down Salud’s bid to get recognized as a registered voter of Cordova town in the sixth congressional district.

Judge Jocelyn Uy-Po found no error in the decision of the Election Registration Board in disapproving Salud’s petition.

“With regards to petitioner (Rex Ong) Salud’s residency, this is one requisite that, to the mind of this court, petitioner should be able to prove at least six months preceding an election,” said Po, presiding judge of the MCTC Consolacion-Cordova, in her decision.

Salud, who wants to challenge incumbent Mayor Adelino Sitoy, petitioned for the inclusion of his name in the list of registered voters in Barangay Cogon.

No residency

Salud insisted he has been staying in that village since 2011.

In his position paper, Salud said that although he is new to Cordova, his “intention to reside (there) has been manifested by renting a house and lot in Barangay Cogon.”

“In due time, however, respondent would be staying in the area on a permanent character as he is now looking for a land to establish his home,” Salud’s position paper read.

However, the town’s election board blocked Salud’s application because he failed to establish his residency.

Article 6 of the Constitution provides that an applicant must be a resident of the Philippines for at least one year and in the municipality where he proposes to vote for at least six months preceding the elections.

During the case conference, Judge Po discovered that the Election Registration Board had disapproved the application of Salud. The poll officers found basis to disapprove Salud’s petition based on the opposition of one Vicente Dinoy.

Dinoy also charged Salud with perjury for allegedly making an untruthful statement when he registered as a voter of Cordova town.

Merely a tenant

Dinoy alleged that Salud made a false statement in claiming he has been a resident of Barangay Cogon in Cordova town for nine months. Salud “has not resided for such a period of time in the barangay,” he said.

The Comelec disapproved Salud’s petition since he does not own a house in Barangay Cogon, Cordova. The boxing promoter is merely renting a room there.

The Cordova Municipal Assessor’s Office also issued a certification stating that Salud does not own property in Barangay Cogon.

Judge Po, accompanied by Salud and personnel of the Election Registration Board, inspected the petitioner’s supposed residence last June 28, 2012.

When they arrived there, Salud presented his rented room and his bedroom.

But the judge pointed out that Salud does not even have personal belongings in it.

Unconvinced

“The bed, unmattressed, was not even sufficient to carry the weight of petitioner. It was a little boy’s room. The house does not even have a proper door,” Po said in her decision.

Po said she was not convinced that Salud is a resident of Barangay Cogon, Cordova.

The law is clear, the judge pointed out, that the petitioner must have resided in the country for at least one year and in the municipality where he proposes to vote at least six months.

“He (Salud) not only failed to prove his residency then but even during the time the ocular inspection was conducted,” the judge held.

Although Salud can still register as a voter, in keeping with his right of suffrage, Judge Po stressed he needs to comply with the requirements.