Manzano says politics behind revocation of COC

MANILA, Philippines — “I can see politics written all over the case.”

This was actor and San Juan congressional candidate Edu Manzano’s comment after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division revoked his certificate his candidacy (COC).

Manzano’s camp said the decision of the Comelec’s Second Division is not final, and they will file a motion for reconsideration to appeal the case either Thursday or Friday.

READ: Edu Manzano to appeal Comelec disqualification order

“On the onset, it was discouraging. [Pinagdaanan] ko na ito 21 years ago,” Manzano said in a press conference in San Juan City on Wednesday, referring to his previous case in 1998 where he was also questioned on his citizenship when he ran, and eventually won, as vice mayor in Makati City.

“And the kind of campaign, regardless of the size of San Juan, it’s been bloody — not in visual terms but talagang binabatikos ako (I was really targeted) from the beginning,” Manzano added.

He said that the first allegation thrown at him was that he was not a resident of San Juan City.

Manzano said he has been neighbors with the city’s mayor for the past 10 years.

“Tapos sinasabi ngayon, kung hindi pumalo yung kanilang mga sinasabi, ay ginawang citizenship naman ngayon (Now they are saying that it’s a citizenship issue),” the candidate said, adding that the one who filed the petition to disqualify his candidacy, San Juan resident Sophia Patricia Gil, was the campaign manager of his rival in the polls, Ronaldo Zamora.

“So now, I’m relieving 1998 again,” he said. “And [kung] ako manalo, tiyak iaakyat ‘yan ng aking kalaban sa Korte Suprema. So yes, doon na naman tayo babalik and ‘yun yung magiging final arbiter, siya ang magde-desisyon.”

(If I win, I’m sure my rivals will bring it to the Supreme Court. So yes, the high court will be the final arbiter and will decide on that.) /ee