TARGET ni KA REX CAYANONG

SA kasalukuyang kaganapan sa pulitika ng Cagayan, tila isang malaking tanong ang bumabalot sa patuloy na pagiging gobernador ni Gov. Manuel Mamba.

Ang disqualification order na inilabas ng Commission on Elections (COMELEC) 1st Division nitong Abril 24, 2024, ay mabilis na bumuhay ng mga agam-agam at kontrobersiya sa probinsya.

Ngunit sa kabila ng maalab na diskusyon at pag-aalala ng mamamayan, isang malinaw na pahayag ang inilabas ng COMELEC sa pamamagitan ng kanilang tagapagsalita na si Atty. Rex Laudiangco.

Mananatili si Governor Mamba sa puwesto hanggang sa maging final at executory ang nasabing disqualification order.

Tama nga naman, may legal remedies ang lahat ng apektado na maghain ng kanilang panig at depensa.

Sa kasong ito aniya, binibigyan pa rin si Governor Mamba ng pagkakataon na ilatag ang kanyang motion for reconsideration sa COMELEC En Banc.

At tulad ng karaniwang proseso, mayroon pa ring pwedeng maganap na apela sa Korte Suprema.

Kaya naman, bagama’t may mga agam-agam sa kasalukuyang kalagayan ng pamumuno sa Cagayan, mahalaga ring bigyan ng respeto ang legal na proseso at desisyon ng mga institusyon ng batas.

Sa kabilang banda, naninindigan ang legal team ni Governor Mamba na walang nilabag na batas o alituntunin ang opisyal.

Ayon sa kanila, mayroong “exception” mula sa COMELEC sa mga regular na programa ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Cagayan pagkatapos ng nakaraang May 2022 local elections.

Sa kabuuan, habang nagpapatuloy ang proseso ng batas at paglilitis, mahalagang manatiling patas at maayos ang pagtugon ng lahat ng mga sangkot.

Samantala, naglabas din ng pahayag si Gov. Mamba hinggil dito.

“There are two cases to disqualify me filed by the wife of Cong. Lara (who is a candidate against me) and another disqualification case filed by his Chief of Staff (COS) with the same allegations of vote buying. (I have never bought votes in my entire political career as mayor – 2 terms, congressman – 4 terms, and now on my 3rd term as governor.) Except for the complaint of the COS, which included illegal disbursement of funds (for which I have Comelec exceptions for the same – as regular LGU programs) to correct the earlier complaint of the wife of Lara,” wika ni Mamba.

“The complaint of the wife was dismissed by COMELEC En Banc on technicality, being filed not on time. The Supreme Court reversed this decision, saying that Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion, leading to it being remanded back to Comelec to be tried on its merits. We will seek Motion for Reconsideration (MR) to the Supreme Court. The COS’s complaint is now in the Comelec, and we raised Forum Shopping, but unfortunately, we did not get a favorable ruling. So we will file an MR to Comelec En Banc.”

Dagdag pa ng gobernador: “I have filed for exemptions of fund expenditures during the election period before Comelec, which was approved belatedly by Comelec only after the election but was filed on time before the election and the deadline.”

Aniya, kasalukuyan ding nakabinbin sa Comelec ang inihaing kaso ng COS matapos siyang magsumite ng MR [motion for reconsideration].

“Because if I could get a favorable En Banc ruling at Comelec, this will buy time for me to stay in office. Anyway, we are 1 year and two months away from elections. I hope this is not connected to my stand on national issues to stay as a friend to all and foe to none in the Taiwan tension. I am ANTI-WAR and Pro-Cagayan. Not pro-China nor pro-US. I have made this clear to everyone. Thanks to all of you. GOD Bless and stay safe,” dagdag pa ng masipag na gobernador.