Mayor Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu and Sharifa Akeel-Mangudadatu. Photos from Facebook
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 28 January) – A candidate for governor of Sultan Kudarat province whose certificate of candidacy (COC) has been canceled by the Commission on Elections First Division expressed confidence he could get a reversal of the decision from either the Comelec En Banc or the Supreme Court.
The Comelec First Division upheld the petition against Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu, incumbent mayor of Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao, filed by the other gubernatorial candidate, Sharifa Akeel-Mangudadatu, for allegedly failing to meet the one-year residency requirement.
The mayor is the son of Maguindanao Gov. Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu and Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu, cousin of Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu, the husband of Sharifa.
Mayor Mangudadatu, speaking via Facebook Thursday night, said he had transferred his residency to Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat as early as October 20, 2020 and his voter’s registration on May 17, 2021.
He said his legal team presented evidence that is more than enough to convince the Comelec En Banc or the Supreme Court to overturn the decision.
“I had abandoned my old domicile in DAS (Datu Abdullah Sangki), my old residence,” he said.
He cited the principle of freedom of abode in the Local Government Code.
“Yes, we transferred our voter’s registration in May 17, 2021 but hindi po yun ang (that isn’t the) issue, what the law requires is one-year residency, hindi po yung (not the) one-year registration. It is clear in Sec 39 of the Local Government Code as far as residence is concerned,” he said.
“I have been a resident of Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat for more than a year, so I am qualified, so hindi ibig sabihin na nagtatrabaho ka sa ibang lugar ay doon ka din titira (it doesn’t mean that if you’re working in a different place you’re already a resident there),” he said.
He said this answers the “material misinterpretation” thrown against his camp.
“I did not lie nor hide something,” he stressed.
The Comelec First Division handed down its decision canceling the mayor’s COC last Jan. 18.
“Majority of the opinion is not yet final, it’s not official and not executory, there is a separate opinion from the same First Division of COMELEC,” he said, referring to the dissenting opinion of Commissioner Marlon Casquejo.
Mayor Mangudadatu described the action of his rival as lies and deception.
“We are confident we are going to win, wala tayong mali na ginawa (we did nothing wrong). We are qualified and my name is still in the ballot, di masasayang ang boto nyo (your vote won’t be for nothing),” he told his supporters.
He showed a copy of the digital ballot in his Facebook showing his affiliation with Lakas, the party headed by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The mayor added he has other evidences such driver’s license, license to own firearms, postal ID, business permit and Securities and Exchange registration.
“Yun din ang sinasabi ng separate opinion sa Comelec. That is why we have a fighting chance, we are confident to win in the Supreme Court,” he said.
He said they are still submitting their documents and expecting hearings in the next few days or weeks before the Comelec En Banc. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews)
