An Waray representative denies 2nd nominee was pressured to resign

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—The second nominee of the party-list group An Waray has tendered his resignation from the group, which means giving up his seat in Congress.

Jude Acidre, regional chairman of the An Waray, sent his resignation letter via an e-mail on May 23, said An Waray Representative Neil Benedict Montejo, the party list’s national president.

“It was too sudden. I was very surprised at his decision to resign from An Waray. But we respect his decision and we accept his resignation with a heavy heart,” said Montejo, who is on his second term.

Montejo said the reason cited by Acidre for his resignation was due to “pressing personal reason.”

Acidre declined to be interviewed and said he would issue a statement “in time.”

The An Waray party-list garnered more than 540,900 votes during May 13 elections which allowed it to secure two congressional seats.

It was the last of the 14 party-list group earlier proclaimed by the Commission on Elections, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers.

Montejo admitted that the resignation of Acidre, who was an original member of An Waray when it was organized more than nine years ago, has put them in a quandary.

“It is now up to the legal division of the Comelec to decide,” he replied when asked who would replace Acidre.

The third nominee of the party-list group is lawyer Victoria Noel, elder sister of outgoing Representative Florencio Noel, who ran for mayor of Tacloban but lost to incumbent Mayor Alfred Romualdez.

Montejo denied there was a pressure to force Acidre to give way in favor the group’s third nominee.

“No, there was no pressure. It was his personal decision to resign from the group. But he is still very much welcome if ever he decides to return to the group,” Montejo said.

Outgoing Representative Noel is still the national chairman of An Waray.