Eriguel stopped from taking post as new mayor of Agoo

The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a temporary restraining order against Stefanie Eriguel-Calongcagon from taking the position of mayor of Agoo Municipality in La Union from Frank Ong Sibuma, who was ordered by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to vacate the post.

In a three-page order, the SC issued a TRO and Status Quo Ante Order (SQAO), to be made effective immediately and to continue until further orders from the Court.

The SC has enjoined Comelec, one of the respondents, from implementing its assailed May 13 Resolution in SPA No. 21-172 and the corresponding Writ of Execution dated June 29.

“Accordingly, the Comelec directive to the Municipal Board of Canvassers (MBOC) of the Municipality of Agoo, La Union to reconvene at the Session Hall, 8th Floor, Palacio del Gobernador, General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and thereafter is restrained,” the Court stated.

Also named respondents in the case are Alma Panelo and Calongcagon. The Petition for Certiorari with application for TRO and SQAO and Motion for Special Raffle was filed by the petitioner Sibuma.

The SC issued the TRO without giving due course to the petition. The SC also required the respondents to submit their comment to the petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice.

On Tuesday, the Comelec’s Second Division granted the petition filed by Panelo to cancel the certificate of candidacy of Sibuma for Agoo mayor, over issues surrounding his residency.

Panelo claimed that Sibuma reportedly committed material misrepresentation because he claimed to be living in Agoo for a year and three months before the May 9 elections, when in fact he is a resident of the neighboring town of Aringay.

Calongcagon was proclaimed mayor by the Municipal Board of Canvassers at 2 p.m. of July 5.

This marks Calongcagon’s third term as chief executive of Agoo, a first-class municipality with more than 60,000 residents in the second district of La Union.

Calongcagon garnered 16,603 votes, as the duly-elected municipal mayor of Agoo.

In a statement, Calongcagon cited the disqualification of her rival Sibuma on material misrepresentation of his certificate of candidacy.

The Comelec cancelled Sibuma’s candidacy after a petitioner questioned his residency as early as November 2021. Material misrepresentation is an election offense under Section 262 in relation to Section 74 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Under Section 39(a) of Republic Act No. 7190, an elective local official must be a resident for at least one year immediately preceding the day of the election.