Ilocos Norte town mayor unseated

LAOAG CITY, Philippines—The Commission on Elections has unseated Dingras Mayor Marynette Gamboa after the poll body ruled that she was disqualified from running in the May 10, 2010, elections.

Gamboa was not in her office on Friday when provincial election supervisor Alipio Castillo delivered the writ that enforced the Comelec ruling.

The Comelec disqualified Gamboa because she was criminally indicted in the United States for three offenses for which she allegedly evaded arrest.

Minutes after the writ was served, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos swore in Vice Mayor Erjo Valenzuela as mayor and Councilor Ruben Marcos as vice mayor at the Dingras town hall.

“Government functions must continue in Dingras under the new leadership,” Marcos said after the ceremony.

A Dingras resident, Nathaniel Taylan, questioned Gamboa’s candidacy, claiming that she is a fugitive from justice in connection with a warrant of arrest issued by the Supreme Court of the County of Ventura in California.

But Gamboa, who ran against Jeofrey Saguid, was declared winner in the elections.

Gamboa appealed the Comelec division’s order but the Comelec upheld the division’s order in a decision promulgated on Aug. 31, 2010.

The mayor then elevated the case to the Supreme Court questioning the Comelec’s decision through an action for certiorari. The high court dismissed the action in an order dated Sept. 28, 2010.

Gamboa again appealed the decision but the high court dismissed the appeal with finality on Dec. 7. <strong><em>Cristina Arzadon, Inquirer Northern Luzon </em></strong>