Mayor Janice Degamo of Pamplona, Negros Oriental, is facing a disqualification complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding her residency in Siaton town as she seeks the 3rd congressional district seat in the My 12 polls.
Her legal counsel, Andrei Bon Tagum, told the media in an online interview on Wednesday, May 7, that the disqualification case was lodged before the Comelec at the end of April and is meant to discredit the mayor.
“It is just political propaganda to frustrate the people in the 3rd district,” given the timing of the complaint filing, Tagum said.
The mayor, who is the widow of the late Governor Roel Degamo, has completed the residency requirement of one year for her to qualify as a congressional candidate in the 3rd district, he added.
He noted that the Degamo couple has a house in Barangay Bonawon, Siaton, where the late governor was buried, while also running their fishing business from the said town.
On May 8, 2024, the mayor transferred her registration as a voter in Siaton town.
Tagum said they have not yet received an official copy of the complaint from the Comelec but were informed through email about it.
He said they also do not know the identity of the complainant.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here said it has not received a copy of the complaint.
Comelec-Negros Island Region director Lionel Marco Castillano said disqualification cases are directly filed with their central office.
In the event a candidate wins in the elections but has a pending disqualification case, the usual procedure is for the Comelec to order a suspension of proclamation until the case has been resolved with finality, he added.*PNA