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Friday, April 30, 2004
Comelec ousts Russo Fernan
By RENE H. MARTEL
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
RUSSO Fernan, Cebu City Councilor Danilo Fernan’s second cousin, was disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Comelec Manila’s First Division ruled Russo was a “nuisance candidate” and his name was
cancelled from the official list of candidates.
The information was contained in a telegraph sent to the law office that Danilo sought to aid him in asking for Russo’s disqualification. The law office received the telegraph last April 28.
It stated that a formal copy of the notice and the Comelec’s resolution will follow.
Aside from Danilo and Russo, former National Bureau of Investigation 7 chief Florencio Villarin and construction worker Juan Arinasa are also challenging Rep. Raul del Mar.
The Comelec decision was promulgated last April 26.
Happy
In an interview in his office, Danilo said he is happy that one “obstruction” to his candidacy was removed with the Comelec decision.
“I’m glad that the Comelec acceded to my request and saw what was really his motive,” he said of Russo.
In asking for Russo’s disqualification, Danilo said Russo cannot finance a serious candidacy since his cousin is impoverished.
Besides, he added, Russo’s health is suspect after suffering six strokes.
For his part, Russo said he will file a motion for reconsideration and will argue that Danilo committed dishonesty in filing his certificate of candidacy (COC).
He said Danilo was not a candidate in the beginning since his COC was “invalid.”
Russo pointed out that Danilo filled up the COC form last “Jan. 1, 2004” but allegedly made it appear that it was notarized by lawyer Kit Enriquez last Dec. 30, 2003 yet.
He said Danilo antedated the COC form because the councilor was in Manila last Dec. 30 and could not have asked Enriquez to notarize it.
Sought for comment, Danilo merely shrugged off Russo’s move and said it is up to Comelec to decide on the issue.
He showed Sun.Star a copy of his COC which said that he signed it last Jan.4, a day before the Jan.5 deadline.
The COC was indeed stamped “Dec. 30, 2003” by Enriquez, but Danilo said the lawyer might have just forgotten to adjust his dater.
The telegraph informing the Comelec of the First Division’s decision said a formal notice of the decision and the resolution will soon follow.
(April 30, 2004 issue)
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