BUKIDNON NEWS | BUKIDNON ELECTION WATCH 2013 – A Valencia City councilor has confirmed that he is now in the process of filing a petition before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in an effort to allow him to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) for Bukidnon Fourth District congressman even though it’s now beyond the October 5, 2012 deadline.

Valencia City Councilor and former Bukidnon 2nd District Board Member Glenn Peduche told Bukidnon news blog Bukidnon Online that his lawyers are now drafting a petition addressed to the COMELEC En Banc.

Peduche’s petition stems from the recent creation of the Bukidnon Fourth District. COMELEC issued Resolution No. 9539 which spells out the new number of seats for elective public officials in relation to the May 2013 elections. Based on the resolution, in order to know which district a candidate falls under, the area or district where he or she is a registered voter, based on the new districting, will be considered. This means that Glenn Peduche, a Valencia City voter, must file at the Bukidnon 4th District.

However, under the law, the COMELEC resolution should still be published in 2 newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines and will only be in effect 15 days after complete publication. Moreover, COMELEC only allowed the COC filings from October 1 to 5, 2012.

COMELEC Resolution No. 9539 was signed October 9, 2012 at 6:10 PM.

“I think that the COMELEC resolution is unfair and unjust. COMELEC should consider that candidates were only given up to October 5 to file but the resolution was released on the 9th,” Peduche told Bukidnon Online.

Peduche also told Bukidnon Online that he went to the Provincial COMELEC on October 2, 2012 to inquire on how to go about filing his COC for the new district but did not receive sufficient information.

Meanwhile, COMELEC officials in Manila told Bukidnon Online that they will release a proper statement once they receive Peduche’s petition.

As of this writing, Engr. Wenifredo Agripo and Rogelio Neil Roque, who both initially filed their COCs for Bukidnon Second District congressman, are now transferred and are eligible to run for Bukidnon 4th District rep.

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