Nalzaro: Arcilla and Andales gambit

WILL the disqualification of Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) stalwart Alvin Arcilla affect his candidacy and chances of winning in the City Council again? I pose this question after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) first division ruled that Arcilla is no longer qualified to seek another term as he already served his full consecutive three terms. Under the law, local elective officials are only allowed to serve three consecutive terms—equivalent to nine straight years.

Arcilla, together with fellow BOPK stalwart Sisinio “Bebs” Andales, are still running for the May 13 elections for the same position in the city’s north district. Their contention was that they were still entitled to seek re-election because their term had been interrupted because of their suspension in 2016 right after the elections.

Their suspension during the term of former mayor Michael Rama stemmed from granting and availing themselves of the P20,000 calamity assistance for City Hall employees and officials after the magnitude 7.2 earthquake and super-typhoon Typhoon Yolanda hit Central Visayas in 2013.

But the Comelec first division dismissed Arcilla’s arguments saying “he is ineligible to run having been elected and having served, in the same position for three consecutive terms immediately prior to the May 13, 2019 national and local elections.” I believe that Andales would suffer the same fate as their cases are similar in nature. I have been predicting this judgment ever since.

But since the decision is not yet final and executory as Arcilla can still file his motion for reconsideration before the Comelec en banc, he is still considered a candidate and he can still campaign, especially since his name is already in the official list of candidates.

Considering the super-delay in the disposal of election-related matters and issues, I can foresee that Arcilla will still be proclaimed and can still serve as councilor if he wins in the elections before he will be eventually disqualified. There is still a big possibility that he will win. Remember, he garnered the highest number of votes in the 2016 elections in the north district.

But will voters not be discouraged from voting Arcilla and Andales when they believe the duo will eventually be disqualified? I believe this case will reach the Supreme Court and it will take several years before this will be decided with finality. The two councilors can buy time and even enjoy their victory in the meantime. They have the advantage compared to their colleagues in the BOPK and the other party as they have been exposed to the voters being three termer councilors.

But had the two honorable officials known the meaning of delicadeza, they could have opted not to run. BOPK leadership should have also advised them not to run to avoid this very embarrassing situation. But maybe it was their desire to continue serving their constituents or because their hunger for power drove them to run again.

Lisud na lagi ning mahigam tas gahum. Dili na ta gustong moundang. Ambot unsay naa anang mag-pulitiko ta nga ganahan man gyud magpabilin sa gahum?

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