Comelec invalidates win of sitting governor in Negros Oriental

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

CEBU CITY – The province of Negros Oriental may soon have a new governor.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has invalidated the victory of incumbent Gov. Henry Teves in the May 9, 2022 elections after the poll body credited the votes obtained by nuisance candidate Ruel Degamo to defeated gubernatorial candidate Roel Degamo.

A writ of execution was served on Wednesday to the parties.

Lawyer Ferdinand Gujilde, spokesperson of the poll body in Central Visayas, said Teves could appeal the ruling before the Supreme Court.

“But if he (Teves) fails to get a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the High Court, then the Comelec’s ruling shall be implemented. Only a TRO can stop (Roel Degamo) from assuming the post of governor of Negros Oriental,” he told the Inquirer over the phone.

A special canvassing board will convene on October 3 to nullify the election victory of Teves and credit the votes obtained by the nuisance candidate in favor of Roel Degamo.

Voting 3-2, the Comelec en banc denied the appeal filed by Ruel Degamo, whose real name is Grego Gaudia, after the poll body’s second division granted the plea of Roel Degamo to declare Ruel Degamo a nuisance candidate and cancel his certificate of candidacy on December 16, 2021.

The parties involved have yet to issue statements regarding the matter.

Roel received 277,462 votes, while Ruel got 49,039 votes in the last elections. If the numbers are added, it would be sufficient for Roel Degamo, the former governor of Negros Oriental, to defeat Teves, who garnered 296,897 votes.

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JPV