Romeo Jalosjos Jr. proclaimed Zamboanga del Norte 1st district representative

The Commission on Elections proclaimed Thursday reelectionist Romeo Jalosjos Jr. as the winning congressional candidate for the first district of Zamboanga del Norte.

Based on Zamboanga del Norte 1st district’s Certificate of Canvass results, Jalosjos originally garnered 69,109 votes from Dapitan City, and the municipalities of La Libertad, Mutia, Piñan, Polanco, Rizal, Sergio Osmeña Sr. and Sibutad.

He placed second behind Roberto “Pinpin” Uy Jr. with 69,591 votes.

Comelec, however, decided to “legally pass” to the reelectionist lawmaker the 5,424 votes obtained by Frederico Jalosjos, who was declared a nuisance candidate. With the votes combined, Jalosjos got a total of 74,533 or winning over Uy by 4,942 votes.

In a message to GMA News Online, Atty. Romulo Macalintal, Jalosjos' election lawyer, explained that Frederico was declared a nuisance candidate by the Comelec for using an alias quite similar to Romeo.

In Comelec’s website, Frederico was named “Kuya Jan Jalosjos.” Romeo, on the other hand, has been using the alias “Kuya Jon.”

“Si Frederico napatunayan na walang tunay na intention na tumakbo kundi upang sirain lamang ang mga boto ni Romeo dahilan sa parehong apelyido at palayaw na Jun at ito ay batay sa mga desisyon ng Korte Suprema na kapag ang kapangalan ay nuisance candidate, ang mga boto niya ay bibilangin para sa legitimate o tunay na kandidato,” Macalintal said.

(It was proven that Frederico has no real intention of running but only to mess with Romeo’s votes because they both have the last name and nickname. Based on the Supreme Court’s decision, when the other person who has the same name was declared a nuisance candidate, his votes will be counted for the legitimate candidate.)

In a Facebook post, Romeo expressed his gratitude to those who supported him in the 2022 elections, saying that the real "Kuya Jon" shares his victory with the people of the district.

Jalosjos Jr. is a son of former Zamboanga del Norte Representative Romeo Jalosjos Sr. who was convicted for raping an 11-year-old girl in 1996.—AOL, GMA News