THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has ruled that Pajo Barangay Captain Junard “Ahong” Chan is an official candidate for mayor in Lapu-Lapu City.
Benjie Dayondon, an election assistant officer, delivered a copy of Resolution 19-0388 “In The Matter of The Certificates of Candidacy of David Miclat Dungo and Junard Q. Chan” to the candidate’s office at the Pajo Barangay Hall on Wednesday morning, May 8.
Dungo, who is running for the Municipal Council of San Simon in Pampanga, had a similar case with that of Chan.
The dispositive portion of the decision stated, “As it hereby resolves to confirm the inclusion by the Law Department in the list of official candidates, Mr. Junard Q. Chan, candidate for the position of Mayor, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.”
Comelec en banc Chairman Sheriff Abas and Commissioners Al Parreño, Ma. Rowena Amelia Guanzon, Marlon Casquejo and Luie Tito Guia signed the resolution.
Aside from Chan, the other mayoral candidates in Lapu-Lapu City are Arturo Radaza (Lakas-CMD/Team Deretso), independent bets Paulo Cabahug and Virgilio Cano, and Rolando Patalinjug (Team Lando/Una).
It was Patalinjug who told reporters in a press conference that Chan was disqualified after the latter submitted an erroneous certificate of candidacy (COC) on Oct. 16, 2018.
Chan submitted two forms to Comelec Lapu-Lapu City—the notarized old and amended forms.
“These circumstances give credence to the certification of Atty. Ann Janette Chua-Hu Lamban that the COC using the amended form was filed on 16 October 2018 together with the other copies,” a portion of the resolution read.
Chan heaved a sigh of relief, saying the decision erased the doubts spread by his rival.
“Today, I can declare my victory to the Oponganons. This is the decision that I would like to tell them—the allegation against me was a lie,” he said in Cebuano.
Patalinjug, for his part, will not challenge the Comelec’s decision, saying he respected it.
“Good for Ahong. Congratulations to him,” he said.
Mayor Paz Radaza, Arturo’s wife, said her group does not mind the issue involving Chan.
Meanwhile, Chan said the attendees of the miting de avance of his party PDP-Laban/Team Libre in a subdivision in Barangay Pajac on Sunday night, May 5, were not a “hakot crowd.”
His political rally was attended by celebrities. Comedienne Gisele Sanchez campaigned for senatorial candidate Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu, while action star Jeric Raval represented another senatorial candidate, Ronald dela Rosa. Cebuana actress Keanna Reeves campaigned for Josie Hayashi, one of Team Libre’s candidates for the City Council. (From FVQ of SuperBalita Cebu, KAL)