THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued a temporary restraining order (TRO), stopping Daphne Lagon from replacing Democrito “Aljun” Diamante as mayor of Tuburan, Cebu.

The TRO was signed by Presiding Officer Al Parreno, Commissioner Arthur Lim and Commissioner Sheriff Abas based on the petition for certiorari and prohibition with TRO that Diamante filed against Regional Trial Court Branch 59 Judge Hermes Montero in Toledo City. The petition will be heard on Dec. 12 in Comelec Manila.

The TRO, which Diamante received last Nov. 20, will be in effect for 60 days.

“Majority win”

Montero’s order would have allowed Lagon to take over as mayor, pending appeal. The judge declared Lagon as winner in her petition against Diamante in five barangays.

However, Diamante, who is on his third straight term, said he won in the majority of the town’s 54 barangays. It just so happened that his lawyers did not file his counter-protest against Lagon, he said.

“The voice of the people is the voice of God can be mirrored in my victory in the majority of the 54 barangays and not in five barangays only,” Diamante said.