SC affirms DQ of Batangas mayoral bet charged with rape, trafficking

The Supreme Court has affirmed the disqualification of a Batangas mayoral candidate charged with rape and human trafficking.

In a full court session, the SC dismissed a petition from Liberal Party member Jay Manalo Ilagan challenging the Commission on Elections' resolution cancelling his certificate of candidacy for the May 9, 2016 mayoral elections in Mataas na Kahoy town.

The Comelec disqualified him due to his material misrepresentation of his eligibility because he ran for mayor despite being a fugitive from justice.

Ilagan has been charged with rape and violation of the law against human trafficking (RA 9208) and has evaded arrest. He surrendered to authorities in January, four months before the elections.

Ilagan's candidacy was opposed by the then-Vice Mayor Henry Laqui, who filed a petition to cancel Ilagan’s COC.

The Comelec Second Division granted Laqui's plea and cancelled Ilagan’s CoC which the Comelec en banc affirmed. Ilagan’s proclamation as mayor was annulled and Nationalist People's Coalition's Gualberto Silva, who had by then intervened as party, was proclaimed as mayor for getting the next highest number of votes.

Ilagan sought recourse from the Court, saying the Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion in cancelling his COC and proclaiming Silva. Ilagan insisted he did not commit material misrepresentation as he was not a fugitive from justice.

"The Court did not agree and dismissed the Petition," said the SC Public Information Office in a summary of the decision. — BM, GMA News