Comelec junks disqualification case vs Jamindan VP

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has again dismissed the disqualification case against Jamindan Vice Mayor Lemuel “Aran” Vestidas.

In a decision dated October 29, 2025, the Comelec Second Division ruled that the motion for reconsideration filed by Patricio V. Villasis, who ran against Vestidas in the May 2025 midterm polls, had no merit and was filed out of time.

The commission earlier denied the disqualification petition due to lack of merit.

In its March 17, 2025 ruling, the Second Division said Villasis failed to attach proof that he served the petition with complete annexes to the respondent.

Villasis later filed a motion for reconsideration, claiming the division erred in its earlier ruling.

Records showed that Vestidas filed his certificate of candidacy on October 8, 2024.

Under Comelec rules, any petition to deny due course or cancel a COC must be filed within 25 days or until November 4, 2024.

Villasis, however, filed the petition only on March 17, 2025, which was well beyond the deadline.

Vestidas won by a wide margin over Villasis in the last election.

The October 29 decision was signed by Commissioners Rey E. Bulay, Nelson Celis, and Noli Pipo.