FOUR members of Grupo Progreso (GP) in Bacolod City were declared as independent candidates by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for 2019 elections.

City Election Registrar Mavil Majarucon-Sia said Monday, December 17, that on Sunday, the Comelec Law Department informed her that reelectionist Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, incumbent Councilors Bartolome Orola and Ana Marie Palermo, and former Councilor Archie Baribar, who filed their certificate of nomination and acceptance (Cona) under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), were declared as independent candidates.

This is because their Cona was signed by Jesus Clint Aranas, president of Government Service Insurance System, Majarucon-Sia said.

“According to the Law Department, Aranas is not authorized to sign the Cona for PDP-Laban for Bacolod City. The PDP-Laban also tried to amend this situation, but the Law Department declared it filed out of time,” she explained.

Majarucon-Sia noted that before the filing of certificates of candidacy, all the political parties were required by Comelec to submit the lists of their authorized representatives to sign the Cona in the particular city or provinces.

“It was found that Aranas is not qualified to sign the Cona for Bacolod City so they were declared independent, but it could not affect their candidacy or their local political group, which is the GP,” Majarucon-Sia said.

She said that since they were declared independent candidates, under the Comelec rules, no substitution is allowed for independent candidates.

She added she already informed the liaison officer of GP and the Law Department will also send notices to the four candidates. (MAP)