SC urged to order Comelec to resolve issues in fight for Camarines Norte vice governor

A candidate for vice governor in Camarines Norte in 2019 asked the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday to order the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to resolve issues involving the election for the second highest post in the province.

In a mandamus petition, Ricarte Padilla urged the SC to direct the Comelec to resolve, among others, the appeal of his rival Jonah Pedro Pimentel, whose certificate of candidacy was canceled by the poll body days before the May 13, 2019 election for violating the term limit.

Padilla claimed that Pimentel’s motion for reconsideration was filed out of time. He was joined by his siblings, actors Robin and Rommel Padilla, in filing the petition.

Pimentel narrowly beat Padilla in the election but the Comelec did not proclaim Pimentel due to the cancellation of his candidacy.

Joseph Christopher Panotes, the highest ranking Sangguniang Panlalawigan member, is currently the acting vice governor.—Virgil Lopez/AOL, GMA News