THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) canceled the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu, a gubernatorial candidate in Sultan Kudarat.
In the Comelec en banc‘s eight-page resolution, it junked the Motion for Reconsideration filed by Mangudadatu about an earlier decision by the Comelec First Division that canceled his COC for the May 9 elections.
Two petitions were earlier filed against Mangudadatu due to false representation, where he claimed in his COC that he is a resident of Sultan Kudarat one year and eight months prior to the elections.
However, petitioners insisted that Mangudadatu is the current mayor of Datu Abdullah Sangki in Maguindanao.
The Comelec said that Mangudadatu failed to present solid basis in his motion in order to overturn the decision of the Comelec First Division that canceled his COC.
The Comelec also pointed out that Mangudadatu, being the mayor of a town in Maguindanao means that he has to reside in the area where he serves as mayor until the end of his term.