THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) En Banc has denied the motion for reconsideration filed by businessman and congressional aspirant Paul Rodriguez of Camiguin.
This follows the earlier decision of the Comelec Second Division disqualifying Rodriguez from the congressional race due to questions surrounding his residency, raised by incumbent Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo.
Romualdo submitted what the Comelec considered substantial evidence challenging Rodriguez’s eligibility, prompting the disqualification. In response, Rodriguez filed a motion for reconsideration, which the En Banc rejected on April 11.
Page 4 of the 12-page ruling noted that Rodriguez’s arguments “fail to impress the Comelec En Banc.”
It emphasized that failure to file a verified answer with a memorandum within the prescribed period bars the respondent from submitting any opposing evidence.
Records showed that Rodriguez had until Dec. 2, 2024, to submit his response. However, the ruling pointed out that he only disavowed access to his submitted email address after rumors of the disqualification petition surfaced.
On page 7, the Comelec En Banc upheld the Second Division’s decision to resolve the case based solely on the petitioner’s submissions, citing Rodriguez’s failure to meet the required deadline to present his defense.
By page 9, the ruling concluded there was no compelling reason to overturn the Second Division’s findings, affirming that Romualdo successfully presented substantial evidence that Rodriguez did not meet the one-year residency requirement.
The motion was thus formally denied by the En Banc.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez’s camp has filed a petition for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) before the Supreme Court.
