The Commission on Election (Comelec) has ordered a winning mayor in Ilocos Norte province for allegedly being a fugitive from justice because of a criminal case in the United States.
In an en banc resolution, the Comelec upheld the Second Division’s May 7, 2010 resolution disqualifying Dingras town Mayor Marynette Gamboa from the mayoralty race in the May 10 elections.
The Comelec said Gamboa should be replaced by the town’s elected vice-mayor, Erdio Valenzuela.
The disqualification case was filed by Gamboa’s rival in the mayoral race, Jeffrey Saguid.
Gamboa is facing a criminal case for allegedly issuing an altered traveler’s check worth $1,000 in Los Angeles, California.
Based on the complaint filed against Gamboa, the petitioner alleged that the mayor has a standing warrant of arrest issued by the Superior Court of California in Ventura country for her alleged failure to appear during a scheduled court hearing.
Gamboa, meanwhile, said that the Comelec’s decision has no strong basis. She said she will appeal the decision before the Supreme Court (SC).
She said she will not vacate the mayoralty post unless ordered by the SC. – Report from Diane Dy, ABS-CBN Ilocos
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