By Ferdinand G. Patinio
MANILA, (PNA) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that the commission en banc will deliberate on the motion for reconsideration (MR) filed by Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon “E.R.” Ejercito, who was ordered disqualified by the poll body’s First Division for campaign overspending.
“We will see what will happen but we will not delay the case. We will finish it as soon as we can. These cases should not be delayed,” said Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes in a press briefing.
On Tuesday, Ejercito filed his MR asking the commission to reverse its earlier decision.
Last week, the Comelec disqualified Ejercito from his office after he was found to have overspent beyond the P4.5 million limit.
Meanwhile, Brillantes said that he will be releasing soon the disqualification case of another local official for alleged vote-buying.
He added they are set to promulgate a resolution disqualifying a mayor, but refused to identify the local government official.
“Our campaign against vote-buying, there is a mayor that will be hit. The decision of the division is already making the rounds,” Brillantes said.
But, sources from the poll body identified the official as Norzagaray, Bulacan Mayor Alfredo Germar of the Liberal Party (LP).
The poll body chief said the money involved amounting to P692,000, over the case is in his custody, after it was turned over to the Comelec last July 2.
“We made a little publicity out of it when the money was brought here. They were in envelopes. And until now, the money is still with me. I won’t give the name before the resolution is promulgated,” he added.
Brillantes noted that aside from the disqualification case, the candidate might also face an election offense case in violation of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits vote-buying.