Jalosjos runs for mayor

FORMER Zamboanga del Norte representative Romeo Jalosjos, who was convicted for statutory rape, filed on Friday his certificate of candidacy for mayor in Zamboanga City.

Accompanied by supporters, Jalosjos and his complete slate trooped to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) after they attended a mass at the Carmelite Church, which is less that a kilometer away from the city election office.

They filed their respective candidacies under the banner of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which is a coalition of Vice President Jejomar Binay's Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and former President Joseph Estrada's Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

Jalosjos’ cousin and former Dapitan City councilor Mercy Arquiza, who resigned early this year, is his running-mate.

UNA candidates for the two congressional districts are former priest Crisanto Dela Cruz (first district) and former vice mayor Jose Manuel Dalipe II (second district).

The Comelec accepted the COC of Jalosjos despite the Election Registration Board (ERB) turning down last August 31 his application for voter's registration in Zamboanga City.

Jalosjos, 71, a resident of Tetuan village, registered with the Comelec's District II office last April 26 hours after he announced his intention to run for mayor in the city.

District II election officer Joseph Ian Tria said he will leave it up with the Comelec's law department to decide on the candidacy of Jalosjos, citing his function is purely ministerial.

Tria chairs the ERB with City Civil Registrar Alexander Elias and City Division of Schools officer-in-charge Pedro Melchor Natividad as members.

The ERB turned down Jalosjos’ application for voter's registration after Deputy House Speaker and first district Representative Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar and Joemar Lobregat protested.

Salazar is the Liberal Party's (LP) bet for mayor, while Lobregat, who chairs the locally organized Adelante Zamboanga Party (AZaP), is the second district congressional bet of the LP-Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino-AZap coalition.

Lobregat is the younger brother of Mayor Celso Lobregat, the coalition's bet in the first congressional district.

Jalosjos elevated the case to the court after the ERB rejected his application for voter's registration.