The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to resolve the poll complaint of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo in the last election.
In its 17-page ruling on August 16, which was shared to the public by the former governor on Tuesday, August 30, the high court approved the petition for mandamus filed by Degamo against the failure of the poll body to stop the candidacy of a nuisance candidate in the gubernatorial race of the province.
The SC asked COMELEC why it did not take action to disqualify Ruel Degamo when its 2nd Division has already declared him as a nuisance candidate.
Then Bayawan City Mayor Pryde Henry Teves was elected as the new governor after he garnered 296,897 votes against Degamo’s 277,462.
But an independent candidate who goes by the name of Ruel Degamo may have spoiled Degamo’s reelection bid after securing 49,039 votes.
The Comelec 2nd Division resolution, which was promulgated on Dec. 16, 2021, has already ruled that Ruel Degamo is a nuisance candidate and cancelled his certificate of candidacy.
The former governor earlier stressed that he won the seat as the votes cast for the nuisance candidate must be credited to him.
The SC has ordered the poll body to resolve the issue within 10 days from receipt of the resolution.*