Comelec junks poll case against Tagaytay City mayor, 13 others

CAVITE, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed the Omnibus Election Code violation that was filed by two complainants against Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham N. Tolentino and 13 other local officials.
The dismissal of the complaint of Leonidez M. Henandez and Romeo de la Merced was contained in an en banc resolution signed by Comelec Chairman Sixto S. Brillantes and the six poll body commissioners.
Hernandez and De la Merced alleged that Tolentino and the other officials have violated the election law when the local government utilized some 209 personnel as emergency employees during the 2010 election period.
The officials included Vice Mayor Celso de Castro, Councilors Fredlander Bay, Raymond Ambion, Ro meo Mariano, Eliseo Javier, Doroteo Marasigan Jr., Violeta Parra, Lorna Toledo, Laureano Mendoza, Patricio Erni, Patricio Pello, Alexander Zaide and Esteban Mendoza.
The mayor and the other respondents said that the complaint was mere harassment and that the hiring of emergency employees was in accordance with law and not related to the May 2010 elections.
The officials cited that the move was made before the election period as there was a need to augment the local government workforce to tend to the city’s tourism upsurge.
The Comelec said that records presented are bereft of any support to the claims. The poll body agreed and affirmed that there exists no probable cause for indictment of the respondents for violation of election laws. (Anthony Giron)

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