Poll body told: Enforce Antique gov suspension

Antique Gov. Exequiel Javier. Photo from lpp.gov.ph

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—A political rival of Antique Gov. Exequiel Javier has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to implement its order disqualifying and removing Javier from his post.

In a four-page motion filed on Jan. 21 by his lawyer Victoriano Orocio, Cornelio Aldon asked the Comelec en banc to issue a writ of execution of its Jan. 12 order ousting Javier for violation of the Omnibus Election Code.

Aldon, who was defeated by Javier in the 2013 elections, cited in his motion the absence of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the Supreme Court that would stop the implementation of the order.

Aldon, in his motion, said that in the absence of a TRO, the disqualification order against Javier should be implemented and Vice Gov. Rhodora Cadiao should be installed as governor.

The Comelec en banc had ruled that Javier violated the Omnibus Election Code for ordering the suspension of Mayor Mary Joyce Roquero of Valderrama town in Antique during the 2013 election period.

The law prohibits the suspension of any elective official during the election period without the approval of the Comelec or unless the suspension is related to graft and corruption.

Javier issued a 30-day preventive suspension on Roquero on Jan. 23, 2013 which was within the the election period from Jan. 13 to June 12, 2013.