Comelec ousts Tuguegarao mayor; vice mayor installed

Photo by Don Lejano/INQUIRER.net

Photo by Don Lejano/INQUIRER.net

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The Commission on Elections nullified on Thursday (Jan. 28) the July 2013 proclamation of Tuguegarao City Mayor Jefferson Soriano, citing “massive irregularities” in the results of the May 2013 automated elections there.

In a Jan. 28 resolution, the Comelec’s First Division revoked Soriano’s election victory after finding “grave and serious” indications that cast doubts on the poll results of Tuguegarao City’s mayoralty contest.

The poll body, however, did not declare a victor, saying the loss of election documents to a robbery last year prevents it from determining the rightful winner.

Instead, it ruled that incumbent vice mayor, Engelbert Caronan, should assume Soriano’s post.

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