Avila says “ Help me inform Baguio voters to Comelec

April 27, 2019 Headlines

BAGUIO CITY (April 26, 2019)”—Baguio City Mayoralty candidate and incumbent City Councilor Edgar M. Avila disclosed that he requested the office of the Commission on Election through Lawyer Maria Juana S. Veleza of the regional office of the COMELEC-CAR to help in disseminating information on the status qou ante order of the Supreme Court.
Avila sad that he send the request letter to the Veleza on April 17, 2019 . In his letter, Avila said that “ As you know, when the COMELEC En Banc Minute Resolution No. 19-0286, which considered my Certificate of Candidacy as deemed not filed, was issued, a cloud of doubt was created as to my qualification to run for Mayor of the City of Baguio.
This cloud of doubt has been disseminated publicly in different mediums of publication, broadcast and television and as an unfortunate effect the electorates of the City of Baguio indeed perceived that I was disqualified to run for Mayor.”
On 11 April 2019, the Supreme Court En Banc in G.R. No. 246055 (Avila vs. Comelec) issued a Status Quo Ante Order which directed the COMELEC, its agents, representatives or persons acting in its place or stead to maintain the status quo prevailing before the issuance of the COMELEC En Banc Minute Resolution No. 19-0286 dated 6 March 2019.
The recent development has cleared the doubt as his qualification and as to the status of his CoC. Short of blaiming Comelec for the faux pax, Avila said “ As such, it is just but rightful and just that I be given assistance by your officer on print, radio and television to announce this Status Quo Ante Order dated 11 April 2019 issued by the Supreme Court.
Through this air time or publication of Comelec, the voters of Baguio City will be properly informed and educated about the status of my Certificate of Candidacy and my qualification to be voted upon on the 13 May 2019 election. “
He appealed that “To this end and in the interest of fair play, may he respectfully requests that Comelec the initiative to make such announcement on his status and/or in the alternative an Order be issued to media outlets that he be given by your office the free Comelec time on radio and television to make such clarification and announcement.”
RD Valeza in a letter emailed to Avila on Aprl 22, 2019, informed him that he was referring the matter to the Comelec En Banc for resolution.
Avila said that with response, he not only received injustice not once but twice as he does not expect Comelec En Banc to act swiftly like the Supreme Court en banc.
He thus appealed to the voters of Baguio to continue believing in the Supreme Court EN Banc resolution that from the beginning he was not “disqualified” as candidate for Mayor of Baguio.