Ombudsman ruling vs Pichay stands
Former Surigao del Sur 1st District representative Prospero Pichay Jr.
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has resolved to cancel the certificate of candidacy of former Surigao del Sur 1st District representative Prospero Pichay Jr. due to misrepresentation during the May 9, 2022 elections.
The resolution, dated April 30, 2024, reversed the Feb. 15, 2021 ruling of the Comelec First Division that dismissed the petition of former Public Works undersecretary Romeo Momo.
Momo argued that Pichay, who was then seeking re-election as representative of the 1st district of Surigao del Sur, has no more right to hold public office because he was found guilty by the Office of the Ombudsman of grave misconduct and was declared perpetually disqualified to hold any public office.
Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said that the commission is duty-bound to implement the decision of the Ombudsman.
“As a constitutional body, the Comelec must henceforth execute Ombudsman decision dated 4 July 2021 as a whole,” he added.
Momo, who defeated Pichay in the 2022 polls, now sits as a representative of the 1st district of Surigao del Sur.