SC affirms election of Mitra as Palawan gov

The Supreme Court on Tuesday voted 12-2 to affirm the election of former Palawan Rep. Abraham Khalil Mitra, who has been disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) due to residency issues, as governor of the province. In a decision penned by Associate Justice Arturo Brion following an en banc session, the court found grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Comelec in not recognizing Mitra's transfer of residence. “The Court is recognizing the transfer of residence of governor Mitra. In effect, that would be the basis for overturning the decision of the Comelec," said Court spokesman and administrator Jose Midas Marquez at a press conference. Mitra’s disqualification stemmed from his failure to meet residency requirements for provincial candidates. He had earlier asked the SC to nullify the Comelec resolution that canceled his certificate of candidacy and the May 4 resolution of the Comelec en banc denying his motion for reconsideration. The Comelec said Mitra, though a long-time resident of Puerto Princesa City, lost his right to run in the Palawan gubernatorial race after Puerto Princesa City was converted into a highly urbanized city in 2007. Mitra claimed he has moved to the mezzanine of a feed mill in the municipality of Aborlan in Palawan where he has been living since March 2008, but the Comelec said the purported room has no toilet and kitchen to sustain basic living conditions. Marquez, meanwhile, dismissed as mere speculations reports that Chief Justice Renato Corona inappropriately attended a dinner hosted by Mitra’s allies in Palawan over the weekend while the case was still pending. According to Marquez, the invitation was extended by Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn and hosted by outgoing Governor Joel Reyes at the latter’s residence after Corona keynoted an environmental seminar in the province. He noted that Corona had even dissented in the decision on Mitra’s disqualification case. “The news article is insinuating that Governor Reyes is unduly influencing Chief Justice Corona, but I think that is now water under the bridge, considering that the Court has already decided and Chief Justice Corona dissented in that decision," he said. Marquez noted that the seminar where Corona was invited as keynote speaker was also attended by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno and Philippine Judicial Academy chancellor Adolfo Azcuna. - KBK, GMANews.TV