Antique Mayor Disqualified for Reelection Bid

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified Bugasong, Antique Mayor John Llyod Pacete from running in the 2025 midterm elections due to “false material misrepresentation” and a violation of the three-term limit rule.

In a copy of the decision obtained by Daily Guardian, the Comelec’s First Division ruled that Pacete’s consecutive terms as mayor from 2016 to 2019, 2019 to 2022, and 2022 to 2025 made him ineligible for reelection.

“[The Comelec] finds that the conditions for the application of the three-term limit rule are clearly present in the instant case as (Pacete) had been elected and had fully served the subject post for three consecutive terms,” the ruling stated.

Pacete argued that his previous terms were interrupted when the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Bugasong convicted him of violating the Omnibus Election Code, leading to temporary incarceration while his appeal was pending.

He was later acquitted by the Court of Appeals (CA) and claimed that this interruption exempted him from the three-term limit rule.

However, the Comelec rejected this argument, emphasizing that Pacete’s conviction and subsequent bail bond cancellation did not constitute an interruption. The commission pointed out that Pacete retained his position as mayor throughout the process.

“(Pacete) never served the penalty of imprisonment and suffered the disqualification from holding public office imposed by the RTC, since (Pacete) was able to file an appeal of his RTC conviction to the CA, which eventually overturned the same,” the Comelec explained.

The ruling further noted that Pacete’s temporary incarceration in the BJMP District Jail in 2019 was solely to ensure his court appearances and did not strip him of his political rights.

Despite his confinement, Pacete was re-elected for a second term and fully served as mayor from 2019 to 2022, exercising full political rights.

The petition to cancel Pacete’s Certificate of Candidacy was filed by Victor Condez, a Sangguniang Panlalawigan member and Pacete’s rival candidate for the 2025 elections.