Comelec en banc to decide Pres. Roxas mayor row

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Mayor Receliste Tanoy Escolin will remain mayor of President Roxas, Capiz, pending a final ruling by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc on a motion filed by defeated mayoral candidate Bartolome Locsin.

Comelec Region VI Assistant Regional Director and concurrent provincial election supervisor for Capiz Atty. Wil Arceño confirmed the status in a recent media interview.

Arceño said Comelec gave Escolin five days to comment on Locsin’s motion.

Locsin is asking Comelec to declare him the winner in the last election following Escolin’s disqualification from running, which Locsin said was based on the three-term limit.

Arceño said Locsin also asked to be included in a disqualification case filed by three barangay chiefs against Escolin.

Locsin also requested that Comelec create a special board of canvassers and proclaim him the winner in the mayoralty race.

Escolin has argued that he did not complete three terms because he was suspended for 90 days by the Office of the Ombudsman early last year for simple misconduct.