Roxas City worker pleads not guilty in poll case

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz— A regular employee of the Roxas City government pleaded not guilty in an election offense case filed against him by a former city councilor.

Administrative Aide I Josue Arce maintained his innocence in a case for alleged violation of Batas Pambansa 881 (Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines).

The arraignment or formal reading of the charge against Arce was held recently at the sala of Regional Trial Court Branch 17 Presiding Judge Lorencito Diaz.

Based on court records, Arce allegedly violated election rules after he was spotted posting and distributing campaign materials of a certain candidate on April 2, 2019 which was a Tuesday and a regular working day.

The alleged violation was also committed within the campaign period for local and national candidates in May 2019.

Under the BP 881, all government employees are banned from indulging in partisan political activities.

The complainant in the case was former city councilor and defeated vice mayoral bet, Atty. Powell del Rosario.

Arce was assigned to the office of Vice Mayor Erwin “Nonoy” Sicad, the archrival of Del Rosario in the vice mayoral race during the last elections.