Diniskuwalipika ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) si Mario Joel Reyes bilang kandidato sa pagka-gobernador ng Palawan sa katatapos na May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections (NLE).
Matatandaang si Reyes ay tumakbo sa gubernatorial race ngunit natalo kay Palawan Governor Victorino Dennis Socrates.
Gayunman, sa ipinalabas na resolusyon nitong Huwebes ng hapon, sinabi ng Comelec Second Division na bagamat natalo sa gubernatorial race si Reyes, hindi maaaring tratuhin na lamang na moot and academic ang kaso nito.
“Reyes was defeated in the gubernatorial race in the recently concluded elections. However, the Comelec Second Division deemed it proper not to simply treat the case as moot and academic, citing that ‘the Supreme Court emphasized that a disqualification case still presents a justiciable issue which the Comelec should resolve instead of merely declaring that the disqualification case has become moot and academic,’” nakasaad sa pahayag ng poll body.
Anang Comelec, ang pagdiskuwalipika kay Reyes ay bunsod na rin ng inihaing petition for disqualification nina Nasir Radjudin Miranda at Mohammad Vinarao Asgal.
Sa nasabing petisyon, iginiit nina Miranda at Asgal na hindi maaaring kumandidato si Reyes matapos siyang i-convict ng Sandiganbayan sa ilalim ng under Section 3(e) ng Republic Act No. 3019 o The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, at pagiging fugitive from justice niya sa ilalim ng under Section 40 (e) ng RA. No. 7160 o The Local Government Code of 1991.
Anang Comelec Second Division, si Reyes ay isang escaped prisoner at fugitive from justice dahil sa kinakaharap na kasong pagpatay sa broadcaster at environmentalist na si Gerry Ortega.
Matatandaang dinismis ng Court of Appeals (CA) at malaunan ay binuhay ang murder case laban laban Reyes. Inatasan rin nito ang Palawan Regional Trial Court na mag-isyu ng warrant of arrest laban sa kanya.
“Pursuant to Section 2 of Rule 129 of A.M. No. 19-08-15-SC, the Comelec Second Division took judicial notice of Reyes’ ‘intent to evade’ the prosecution of the criminal charge,” anang poll body.
Anang Comelec Second Division, ang aksiyon ng pagtakas ni Reyes patungo sa ibang bansa at pag-iwas sa pag-aresto matapos ang kanyang indictment ay may ‘intent to evade’ na hindi maaaring lunasan ng Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) na malaunan ay nakuha niya mula sa Korte Suprema.
Dagdag pa ng Comelec, bagamat hindi maaaring idiskuwalipika si Reyes base sa kanyang naunang kumbiksiyon sa Sandiganbayan dahil sa pendency ng Motion for Reconsideration at Urgent Reiterative Omnibus Motion na inihain niya, ang hatol sa kanya sa G.R. No. 237172 ay hindi pa nagiging pinal.
“Thus, the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office will not set in,” anang Comelec. (Jaymel Manuel)
