Abraham Mitra's election as Palawan gov sustained by SC anew

The Supreme Court has denied with finality the motions for reconsideration seeking the disqualification of Palawan Governor Abraham Mitra, who used to represent the province at the House of Representatives before he was elected to his new post last May 10, 2010. In a 34-page resolution promulgated on Oct. 19, 2010, the court said the Commission on Elections and Palawan residents Antonio Gonzalez and Orlando Balbon Jr. failed to present new arguments challenging the court's July 2, 2010 ruling that upheld Mitra's election as governor. "We note at the outset that the Comelec and private respondents' arguments are mere rehashes of their previous submissions, they are the same arguments addressing the issues we already considered and passed upon in our July 2, 2010 decision," said the court. The high tribunal addded that the earlier decision it issued has already covered the arguments raised by the Comelec, Gonzalez, and Balbon. Associate Justice Arturo Brion penned the decision, which had the concurrence of 10 other magistrates. Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco and Jose Perez dissented, while Associate Justices Conchita Carpio-Morales and Roberto Abad did not take part because they were on official leave. Mitra’s disqualification case stemmed from his supposed failure to meet the 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. Mitra elevated the matter to the Supreme Court, which later ruled in his favor and said the Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion. — RSJ, GMANews.TV