LUCENA CITY?THE Commission on Elections has canceled the certificate of candidacy of a congressional candidate in Quezon, making him ineligible to run, on the basis of the candidate?s criminal conviction in the United States.

In a resolution issued Tuesday by the Comelec Second Division, the poll body said Eduardo Rodriguez (LP) is ineligible to run as representative of Quezon?s third district.

The Second Division is chaired by Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer.

On Dec. 11, 2009, one Briccio Lagan, a resident of Unisan town, petitioned the Comelec to cancel Rodriguez?s candidacy, accusing Rodriguez of lying about his qualifications.

Lagan said Rodriguez, Quezon governor from 1988 to 1998, was barred by law from seeking public office following his conviction of insurance fraud and grand theft in California.

Rodriguez was found to have faked the deaths of his mother-in-law and wife to collect more than $150,000 in insurance claims. The case led to Rodriguez?s extradition.

Rodriguez, who is running against incumbent Rep. Danilo Suarez and Rebecca de la Rosa of the Alpha Kappa Omega party, said a similar case for disqualification was filed against him in 2007 but it was dismissed.

He said Lagan failed to present copies of records of his conviction. Lagan, however, was able to submit Rodriguez?s criminal records in the United States and news reports on his conviction.