Comelec to proclaim new Basista mayor in Pangasinan on Feb. 12

DAGUPAN CITY — The Commission on Elections has issued a Writ of Execution declaring Jocelyn Perez as mayor of Basista town.

The writ, dated January 27 and signed by Comelec chair Andres Bautista, directs the Special Municipal Board of Canvassers of Basista to proclaim Perez on February 12 at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila.

The Board of Canvassers is headed by lawyer Abigail Justin Cuaresma-Lilagan.

The Comelec’s Second Division had annulled the proclamation of Perez’ rival Manolito de Leon as Basista mayor on January 26, 2015.

The Comelec sitting En Banc sustained that decision through an Oct. 9 order last year, concluding that de Leon was not qualified to run and hold elective positions because of his American citizenship.

De Leon had asked the Supreme Court to stop the Comelec from implementing his disqualification, but the SC denied the petition in an En Banc decision dated November 10, 2015.

Perez filed the disqualification case against de Leon, citing Bureau of Immigration records which say he had used his United States passport in 2010 and in 2011 while sitting as mayor.

De Leon supposedly renounced his US citizenship before he ran in the 2010 elections.

Perez and de Leon would again face each other for the same post in the coming May elections.