A COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) division in Manila will conduct Thursday, February 7, the preliminary conference for the disqualification case filed by former Taglimao village chief William Guialani against Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno.
The former barangay captain wants Moreno disqualified from seeking his third and final term as city mayor based on the April 10, 2017 decision of the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing Moreno from service with perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
Moreno said he will send his lawyers to appear before the poll body.
“My lawyers will be there. I am not attending not because of disrespect of the commission, but because of very pressing government functions here in the city,” Moreno said in a text message.
Guialani was challenging Moreno to attend the conference to convince the Comelec that he should not be disqualified in the upcoming May elections.
He said evidences will be marked during the preliminary conference.
The poll body has directed Moreno to answer within five days the petition filed by Guialani last January 15.
“Marking of evidence lang ang mahitabo sa preliminary conference,” Guialani said.
Guialani also wants the Comelec to delete the name of Moreno from the official list of candidates for the position of mayor in the city of Cagayan de Oro for the May polls.
“Considering that the penalty of perpetual disqualification imposed upon respondent Oscar Moreno by the ombudsman is immediately enforceable from the time the decision meeting said penalty rendered and the said decision has never been restrained nor overturned by any competent court, the respondent is thus disqualified to run for any elective office,”Guialani said in the 13-page petition.
Guialani said after today's preliminary conference, the poll body may either proceed for a pre-trial or dismiss the case.
“Kung nakita nga naa gyud dapat i-question pwede mag proceed ang Comelec sa pre-trial pero kung nakita niya nga sufficient ang evidence ni Moreno pwede niya i-dismiss,” Guialani said.
However, Guialanin said he is holding strong evidences against Moreno.
“Whatever the decision of the Comelec is angay respituhon kung aha man kini pabor,” he added.