Disqualification case filed vs mayor in Batangas

A last-minute disqualification case was filed with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against the incumbent mayor of San Pascual, Batangas on Friday for allegedly misappropriating P40 million of public funds, misusing public property and harassing a rival in the May 10 polls. In an eight-page petition, former San Pascual Mayor Mario Magsaysay Jr. asked the poll body to disqualify Mayor Antonio Dimayuga of ruling the Lakas-Kampi-CMD from the May 10 elections. Dimayuga secured a P40-million loan from the Philippine National Bank-Diosdado Macapagal branch to buy and repair fire trucks as well as firefighting equipment, Magsaysay alleged. “The petitioner learned that the respondent procured several brand new vehicles, which include an ambulance and a Ford Everest which unfortunately did not last long because right then and there, instead of using the ambulance for which it was intended, the same was used for the respondent’s election campaign," according to the petition. “Worst of all, said vehicles were almost totally wrecked when the same figured in a multiple collision involving the respondent and his team during one of their house-to-house campaigns," the petition added. Calls made by reporters trying to get the side of Dimayuga were unanswered. Magsaysay also accused Dimayuga of harassing rival Rosario “Roanna" Conti by destroying the independent candidate's campaign posters. He cited witness Andres Aguila, who claimed that Dimayuga’s supporters tore Conti’s tarpaulins. Witness Danilo Calleja Jr. said in a sworn statement he was harassed and humiliated by Dimayuga while listening to his miting de avance. Magsaysay said the acts of Dimayuga constituted grounds for disqualification under Section 261 (e), sub paragraphs 1 and 3 of the Omnibus Election Code. — VS, GMANews.TV