By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .
FORMER councilor President Elipe may have lost in the Misamis Oriental elections in 2016 but he may still end up serving the remainder of the office term of a dead Padayon Pilipino member in the provincial board.
Elipe was nominated by the leader of the Padayon Pilipino to replace provincial board member Mario Emano who passed away on Nov. 6, 2017. His certificate of nomination was signed by his father-in-law, former governor and Cagayan de Oro mayor Vicente Emano, the founder and head of the Padayon Pilipino.
After completing three consecutive office terms as city councilor in 2016, Elipe tried his luck by running for a seat in the provincial board in Misamis Oriental’s 2nd District. He lost but he was appointed the same year as general manager of the capitolun Misamis Oriental Integrated Sports Center since 2016.
Edward Bhagwani, provincial director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), confirmed that Elipe’s nomination documents were submitted.
Bhagwani however said the documents were sent back to the Padayon Pilipino so these could be certified as true copies.
He said a May 17, 2018 directive from DILG regional director Arnel Agabe tasked him to make sure that all requirements are complied with.
The requirements include Elipe’s personal data sheet through Civil Service Form No. 212, certificates of the nominee’s and the late provincial board member Emano’s party membership signed by the highest ranking Padayon Pilipino official, a certificate of nomination signed by the party head, the late official’s certificate of candidacy as certified by the Commission on Elections, and Emano’s death certificate.
The Gold Star Daily learned that Elipe’s wife Nadya, a Cagayan de Oro councilor, wrote to President Duterte as early as April 19 about her husband’s nomination. Ms. Elipe letter was then forwarded to lawyer Ricardo Bernabe III, assistant secretary at the Office of the Executive Secretary.
In May 4, lawyer Odilon Pasaraba, a director at the Bureau of Local Government Supervision, wrote back to Ms. Elipe and informed her they need to comply with all the requirements before Malacañang acts on the nomination.
The approval would come from President Duterte based on the Local Government Code of 1991.
Provincial board member Gerardo Sabal, a Padayon Pilipino member, said he was unaware that Elipe was already nominated by the party but added that the provincial legislature has already declared the late Emano’s seat vacant.
“Ang among pag-declare nga vacant ang puwesto ni anhing board member Mario Emano, alang lang to sa among determination of quorum,” Sabal said.
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