Elipe faces disqualification case in Misor

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

AN official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said Councilor President Elipe has filed an application to be a registered voter of Tagoloan town in Misamis Oriental but it has yet to be approved.

Misamis Oriental election supervisor  Carlito Ravelo said this a day after Elipe filed his certificate of candidacy for a seat in the provincial board under the group of his brother-in-law, Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano.

Ravelo said Elipe, who represents the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro in the city council, is facing legal questions because it could be argued that he abandoned his present position or he has remained to be a resident of this city.

Ravelo however noted that Elipe’s application to be a registered voter of Tagoloan has yet to be approved.

“Nag-ingon ang qualification provision sa  Local Government Code alang sa mga elected  public official nga once elected ka,  ug nag-assume kana sa usa   ka government position,  kinahanglan nga kanang  imong  position, imo kanang i-maintain hangtud mahuman ang imong  termino,” explained Ravelo.

He said the councilor may end up being disqualified as a candidate for a seat in the Misamis Oriental provincial board if any citizen files a case against him in court because his office term as Cagayan de Oro councilor ends on June 30, 2016.

He said a disqualification case would be up to a court, and not the Comelec, to decide on––and this would likely take time.

“Dili man gud automatic ang Local Code. Kinahanglan pa man kasohon, ma-o ni nga gi-exploit ni Elipe ang court proceedings, kay kon dunay  mo-file ug kasong  disqualification batok kaniya, husayon pa man sa korte,” Ravelo said.

On Monday, Elipe said anyone who wants to question his candidacy in Misamis Oriental is free to file a case against him. (nitz arancon)