Familiar DQ ruling hangs over Villafuerte dynasty challenger’s gubernatorial bid

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

'It is true that I do not have a property in Pili, Camarines Sur and that I am living in a rental apartment, but the law doesn’t prohibit those who do not have their own house or land property from running for government positions,' says Camarines Sur gubernatorial candidate Ronald "Bong" Rodriguez

ALBAY, Philippines – A disqualification ruling threatens to derail neophyte gubernatorial challenger Ronald “Bong” Rodriguez’s bid against the enduring Villafuerte political dynasty in Camarines Sur, mirroring the case of 5th District Representative candidate Philip Fortuno.

The Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) First Division issued a disqualification ruling against Rodriguez on Wednesday, April 30. 

Citing material misrepresentation under Section 74 in relation to Section 78 of the Omnibus Election Code, the Comelec ruled to cancel Rodriguez’s certificate of candidacy.

“The cancellation of the candidate’s COC under Section 74 in relation to the Section 78 of the Omnibus Election Code premises itself on the ground that a deliberate attempt to mislead, misinform, and hide the true state of his residence occurred, which would otherwise render him ineligible to run,” the Comelec First Division said.

Rodriguez admitted his lack of residential property in Pili, Camarines Sur, but denied violating election rules or misrepresenting his residence in his COC.

“It is true that I do not have a property in Pili, Camarines Sur and that I am living in a rental apartment, but the law doesn’t prohibit those who do not have their own house or land property from running for government positions,” Rodriguez said.

He also said that the barangay captain and an assigned barangay councilor issued him a barangay certificate, attesting to their knowledge of him as a resident in Barangay Palestina, Pili, Camarines Sur.

Rodriguez is running against incumbent Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative and gubernatorial candidate Luis Raymund “Lray” Villafuerte.

‘Still in the running’

With only ten days remaining until the election, Rodriguez’s camp is preparing an appeal to reverse the Comelec’s First Division decision.

“Our legal counsel, led by Atty. Emil Marañon, is drafting a Motion for Reconsideration (MR) which we must submit within 5 days,” Rodriguez told Rappler.

He said they would exhaust all procedures in his appeal.

“Note that after the MR, the case will proceed to the Comelec en banc, and if necessary, to the Supreme Court,” Rodriguez said. “With only 10 days left before election day, the en banc cannot possibly convene to decide on the MR, which signifies that as long as we file the MR, we remain very much in the running.”

Rodriguez claimed his opponents are attempting to make voters believe that they are no longer in the contest.

“Right now, the battle is on the PR [public relations] front because the other camp is making it appear like I am already out of the race when I am not. What is important is that my name is on the ballot and as such can still be voted upon,” he said.

Both Rodriguez and Fortuno, who belong to the same slate, remain on the ballot that will be used in the May 12 elections.

Familiar pattern

Filed on October 28, 2024, just one day before the disqualification case against Fortuno was also filed, the petition to disqualify Rodriguez cited alleged violations, including material misrepresentation of residency. However, Comelec voter registration data verify Rodriguez as a registered voter in Palestina, Pili, while Fortuno is a registered voter in Bustrac, Nabua. 

The Rodriguez and Fortuno cases share similarities in the cited violations and timelines. Notably, Comelec presiding Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, Commissioner Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda, Jr., and Commissioner Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal authored both rulings.

Previously, in 2007, the Villafuertes also sought the disqualification of the late Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Jesse Robredo, then mayor of Naga City, after he defeated Jojo Villafuerte in the 2004 and 2007 mayoral races. The Comelec initially ruled Robredo was not a Filipino citizen.

That ruling was later overturned, and the Comelec proclaimed Robredo and his winning slate on May 19, 2007. Robredo completed his term and served as Naga City mayor until 2010.

According to Rodriguez, this familiar scheme by the Villafuertes will not extinguish residents’ desire for genuine reforms. He said that it would only fuel the people’s desire for change. 

“This serves as a wind fueling the fire in the hearts of many Cam Sur voters who are already fed up with the Villafuertes’ abusive rule in the province,” he said. – Rappler.com