Lawyer hits DILG for last minute release of 'multi-term' candidates

"Why only now?" A veteran election lawyer on Monday has criticized the Department of the Interior and Local Government for its so-called last minute release of the names of barangay chair candidates who are ineligible to run for the post after serving multiple terms. In an interview on dzBB radio, lawyer Romulo Macalintal said the DILG committed negligence because it only released the names of the ineligible candidates on the weekend before Monday's elections. "Bakit ngayon lang magsa-subit? Hindi lang isa itong malaking kapabayaan ng DILG. Dapat noon pa nila ginawa iyan (Why did the DILG submit only now? This is a serious negligence on its part. They should have submitted the names before)," said Macalintal, who used to serve as former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's election lawyer. As of posting time, GMANews.TV was still trying to reach Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo for his comment. Over the weekend, the Commission on Elections issued a resolution authorizing its law department to to file petitions to disqualify candidates who are "multiple-termers" — or those who have served for three or more consecutive terms in office. The Comelec's issuance was based on the DILG's list of 4,433 barangay chairmen nationwide who are no longer eligible to run in the polls because "they are already over the term limit." The list of disqualified barangay chairmen from the DILG has been distributed to all election officers across the country on Saturday for validation. Any votes for "multiple termer" candidates will be considered "stray votes" and in cases where multiple termers win, the candidate with the next highest votes will be proclaimed the winner. Charges of material representation will also be filed against the multi-termers for violating Sec. 262 of the Omnibus Election Code. Criminal charges of perjury and prolonging performance of duties and powers will also be filed against these multi-termer candidates. Both the election and criminal offenses carry a penalty of one to six years of imprisonment as well as removal of right to get elected in public office and to vote. On Monday, Macalintal also warned that the Comelec cannot automatically suspend the proclamation of a winning "multiple-termer" without giving him or her due process. "Ang Comelec, hindi sila pwede mag-suspend ng proclamation ng winning candidates ng walang notice ng hearing. Malay natin, naka-tatlong termino sila pero may interruption ang term of office. Dapat may proseso talaga iyan (The Comelec cannot just suspend the proclamation of winnning candidates without notice of a hearing. While these candidates may have served three terms, maybe these terms were interrupted or not consecutive. There should be a process for this)," said Macalintal. — RSJ, GMANews.TV