KINANSELA ng Commission on Elections ang certificate of candidacy ng incumbent Second District Councilor sa Maynila dahil convicted umano ito sa kasong electrical power theft, kaya pinatawan ito ng perpetual ban sa pagtakbo o pagpasok sa gobyerno.

Sa 15-page decision, inihayag ng Comelec na ang COC ni Councilor Darwin B. Sia para sa May 12, 2025 national and local elections “is hereby denied due course and cancelled.” Napag-alaman na si Sia ay isa sa Yorme’s Choice.

Base sa inilabas na resolusyon na inakda nina Comelec Second Division Presiding Officer Rey Bulay, at Commissioners Nelson Celis at Noli Pipo, nang maghain ng kanyang COC, nanindigan si Sia na siya ay ‘eligible’ para sa posisyon na muli niyang inaasam na maluklok muli.

“However, the Comelec notes that ‘it is public knowledge and widely circulated’ Sia had been convicted by final judgement by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 19 in a case of illegal use of electricity or anti-pilferage. The case, docketed as criminal case no. 12-293357, convicted Sia for violation of Section 2(a) of Republic Act No. 7832, otherwise known as the Anti-Pilferage Act of 1994 and was sentenced to pay a fine of P10,000.”

“This offense, by its very nature, constitutes a crime involving moral turpitude,” ayon sa resolusyon. Dagdag pa rito na sa ilalim ng Omnibus Election Code, “an individual is disqualified to be a candidate for an elective position and from holding any office if such a person has been sentenced by final judgement for a crime involving moral turpitude. The same goes for Section 40 of the Local Government Code”.

“Respondents eligibility if unmistakable. A plain reading of the two separate provisions of law clearly states that the conviction for a case involving moral turpitude is a ground to perpetually disqualify one from running for an elective office absent any plenary pardon or amnesty,” saad pa sa resolusyon.

“With clear knowledge of his disqualification due to a conviction…respondent falsely represented himself as eligible for the position he seeks. Such a misrepresentation is a material matter that directly impacts his eligibility and warrants the cancellation of his COC,” dagdag pa ng Comelec.

(JESSE KABEL RUIZ)