AN ALLY of former Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to resolve the quo warranto case filed against incumbent Mayor Oscar Moreno.
Emano also insisted the Comelec’s earlier trashing of the disqualification case lodged by former Barangay Taglimao chairman William Guialani will not affect the quo warranto case.
A quo warranto is a legal procedure undertaken to cause a person or organization to cease its efforts or activities with regard to performing some act which it may not have the legal right or authority.
Lawyer Leon Gan, a close political ally of Emano, said the submission of documentary exhibits and the marking of evidence in relation to the quo warranto case is scheduled on November 9.
Gan said the quo warranto is anchored upon the Ombudsman's dismissal order which they insist was final and executory.
"The Ombudsman decision is final and executory meaning at the time nga nigawas ang decision executory na to and dili na gyud unta kadagan si Moreno at the time sa pag-file sa certificate of candidacy," Gan said.
The Court of Appeals' Special Twenty-Second Division, in a decision dated October 13, reversed the August 2015 Ombudsman order dismissing Moreno and City Treasurer Glenn Bañez for actions in relation to a tax settlement agreement with Ajinomoto in 2014.
But Gan said that the Appellate Court’s reversal of the Ombudsman decision is also not final, thus it can not affect the quo warranto case.
"Ang decision sa Court of Appeals is not yet final. Mo-reckon man ta sa first decision not on the subsequent decision," Gan said.
Moreover, Gan said the recent decision of the Comelec dismissing the disqualification case of Moreno has a loophole which prompted Guialani to file a motion for reconsideration.
"Dunay deperensya ang decision. Ang ilang gipangayo is kulang ang petition og certification sa finality of the decision sa Ombudsman. Karon kay nigawas naman ang decision sa Ombudsman denying the motion for reconsideration nga gi-file ni Moreno meaning to say final on the part sa Ombudsman," Gan said.
Gan said once Guialani has the certification, it will serve as new evidence to present which may cause the poll body to reconsider its earlier judgment.
"Ang kulang is certification, kung tagaan si Guialani og certification sa Ombudsman probably ma-entertain na sa Comelec ang iyang petition because at the time sa filing sa petition wala pa man finality kay ang denial sa MR ni Moreno after sa election naman nigawas," Gan said.
Guialani, however, said he is thinking of no longer pursuing the cases against Moreno.
"Katungod kana ni Guialani kung dili na siya mopadayon. Basta wala lang siya gipugos ug gihadlok. Igo na nga napadayag sa katawhan nga duna gayud kahiwian nga nahitabo sa kasamtangang administrasyon," Gan said.
"Mas maayo nga ipadayon ang kawsa nga iyang nasugdan kay kining tanan ang tinuod alang lamang sa katawhan sa dakbayan. Kay ako nagtuo nga sa kaulahian mogawas ra ang tinuod nga hustisya," Gan added.