CEBU City Councilor Sisinio Andales bid goodbye to his supporters after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc issued a certificate of finality for the disqualification of his certificate of candidacy (COC) for his fourth term.
On his Facebook post, Andales said the people chose him but he lost to Comelec.
On Thursday, July 4, 2019, Comelec deemed as final and executory the cancellation of Andales’ COC.
“Thank you for all your support and trust in me which made me garnered the 106,678 votes during last May 2019 elections. We won, but we lost in Comelec. I am the people’s choice,” wrote Andales on his Facebook post.
Andales attended the inaugural session of the 15th City Council last July 1.
The former Pahina Central barangay captain was elected as councilor in Cebu City in 2010, 2013 and 2016.
However, in 2016, his term was interrupted, together with Alvin Arcilla, after they were suspended for six months for the granting of the P20,000 calamity assistance to all officials and employees of City Hall in 2013 in the wake of the earthquake and super typhoon Yolanda.
Comelec also cancelled the COC of Arcilla, who also won in the midterm elections.
Councilor Jerry Guardo, who placed ninth, had replaced Arcilla. In the case of Andales, once the en banc will issue a writ of execution, Councilor Joel Garganera, who placed 10th, will take his place.
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella urged members of the 15th City Council to do their job well, regardless of who is the majority or the minority.
“It does not mean that we are the majority we can abuse our number, we should practice what is right,” Labella said.
The mayor wants to see to it that the resolutions that the council will pass are for the benefit of the city.
“Because under deliberative system of the government, while the majority rules, we have to respect the rights of the minority,” said Labella.
Garganera will take his oath once the en banc issues a writ of execution for the disqualification of Andales’ COC. (FROM PAC OF SUPERBALITA CEBU / JJL)