Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo officially assumed office on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. (File photo from his Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the victory of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in the May 2022 polls.
The decision also affirmed the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) ruling, which declared Degamo’s rival “Ruel” Degamo as a nuisance candidate and annulled Pryde Henry Teves’ proclamation as governor after counting “Ruel” Degamo’s votes in favor of Roel Degamo.
The high court said the Comelec did not commit grave abuse of discretion in issuing its Sept. 1 resolution, which declared “Ruel” Degamo as a nuisance candidate.
It was also noted that Grego Gaudia Degamo only used “Ruel Degamo” for the 2022 elections.
He was known as Grego and merely used the nickname “Ruel” recently. He also used the surname of those who has taken custody of him even though he was not legally adopted by them.