SC upholds victory of Negros Oriental governor

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the victory of Roel Degamo as the provincial governor of Negros Oriental.

In a statement, the Supreme Court En Banc said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) did not commit grave abuse of discretion when it declared Grego “Ruel” Degamo as a nuisance candidate.

Due to this, the proclamation of Pryde Henry Teves as provincial governor was annulled, and the votes obtained by Ruel Degamo were credited in favor of Roel Degamo.

“Ultimately, the Court found no grave abuse of discretion in the counting the votes garnered by the nuisance candidate Ruel G. Degamo in favor of Roel R. Degamo,” the Court said.

According to the Court, though Teves was the winning candidate in the 2022 national and local elections, his status in the petition filed by Roel Degamo to declare Ruel Degamo as a nuisance candidate was that of an observer.

“Hence, even if he was not impleaded in the petition filed by Roel against Ruel the same will not amount to a violation of his right to due process,” it said.

“Moreso, the number of votes he has garnered will remain the same, with the Comelec proceeding merely on the appreciation of the votes cast by the voters and determine whether all of the votes obtained by the declared nuisance candidate will have to be credited in favor of the declared real candidate,” it added. —Joahna Lei Casialo/ VAL, GMA Integrated News