Pamplona Mayor Janice Vallega-Degamo is facing a disqualification complaint before the Commission on Elections regarding her residency in the southern town of Siaton town where she is seeking the 3rd Congressional District seat in the May 12 polls.
Her legal counsel, Andrei Bon Tagum, told the media in an online interview on Wednesday that the disqualification case was lodged before the Comelec at the end of April, and is meant to discredit the Mayor of the northern town of Pamplona.
“It is just political propaganda to frustrate the people in the 3rd District,” given the timing of the complaint filing, Tagum said.
The Mayor, widow of the late Gov. Roel Degamo, has completed the residency requirement of one year for her to qualify as a Congressional candidate in the 3rd District in the south, he added.
He noted that the Degamo couple maintain a house in barangay Bonawon in Siaton, where the late Governor was buried. The also manage their fishing business from the town of Siaton.
On May 8 last year, the Pamplona Mayor transferred her registration as a voter in Siaton town.
Tagum said they have not yet received an official copy of the complaint from the Comelec but were informed through email about it.
He said they also do not know the identity of the complainant.
Meanwhile, the Comelec here said it has not received a copy of the complaint.
Comelec-Negros Island Region Director Lionel Marco Castillano said disqualification cases are directly filed at the central office in Manila.
In the event a candidate wins in the elections but has a pending disqualification case, the usual procedure is for the Comelec to order a suspension of proclamation until the case has been resolved with finality, he added. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
