COMELEC junks Hagedorn's petition to nullify candidacy of Bayron

(UPDATED) The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has dismissed the petition of former Puerto Princesa mayor Edward Hagedorn to nullify the candidacy of incumbent Mayor Lucilo Bayron for lack of merit.

Lawyer Arnel Pedrosa, concurrent city administrator and legal officer, said Friday that Bayron has already received a copy of the decision sent by his Manila lawyer.

“Confirmed na rin, si mayor mismo ang nagbalita sa akin na dismissed na ‘yong petition for disqualification filed against him. Sa pagkakaalam ko kung hindi siya Martes [na-receive], Lunes this week lang… he (Mayor Bayron) is in high spirit dahil again, no less than the COMELEC upheld ‘yong kaniyang position na he is qualified to run and to be re-elected as mayor of Puerto Princesa City. It only means that he did not commit any false statement or misrepresentation in his certificate of candidacy (COC),” Pedrosa said.

Hagedorn filed the petition last year, claiming Bayron committed “material misrepresentation” so he should be meted the penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding government office.

Pedrosa said the petition is politically-motivated.

“Wala naman kasing ibang motive tsaka purpose dyan. ‘Yong timing niya during election, ‘yong personality ng nag-file sila rin, at ‘yong purpose kung bakit siya na-file ay for political purpose talaga ‘yan,” he said.

Pedrosa added that while he has no copy yet, he already saw it posted online.

“[Nakapaloob sa document] ‘yong dispositive niya, dini-dismiss ‘yong petition for disqualification dahil walang merit, iyon ang nakalagay doon sa kaniyang ruling ng COMELEC. Maii-strengthen siyempre [nito] ‘yong hold ni mayor na magpa-re-elect bilang punong lungsod ng Puerto Princesa,” Pedrosa said.