Jalosjos files motion on proclamation of Zamboanga rep

Reelectionist Romeo Jalosjos Jr. on Friday asked the Supreme Court anew to reconsider its decision to annul his proclamation as representative of the first district of Zamboanga del Norte.

This stemmed from the decision of the High Court in August that ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to proclaim Roberto Uy Jr. as the winner.

In a 68-page motion for reconsideration, Jalosjos reiterated their previous argument that the High Court has no jurisdiction over the case considering that he has already been proclaimed, taken an oath, and assumed office.

According to Jalosjos, the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) should have jurisdiction over the case.

“Ang sinasabi natin dito na kinakailangan i-reverse ang decision ng Supreme Court because otherwise maaring magkaroon ng constitutional crisis,” Atty. Edward Gialogo, Jalosjos’ lawyer, said in an ambush interview.

(The SC needs to reverse its decision, otherwise it may result in a constitutional crisis.)

In late October, Jalosjos filed a partial motion for reconsideration “due to the immediacy of the order.”

Jalojos, who was proclaimed by the Comelec as the winning congressional candidate in June last year, originally placed second behind Uy with 69,109 votes, but the Comelec decided to “legally pass” 5,424 votes obtained by Frederico Jalosjos (F. Jalosjos), who was earlier declared a nuisance candidate.

Due to this, Jalosjos got a total of 74,533 votes, winning over Uy by 4,942 votes.

The SC, however, annulled Jalosjos' proclamation, saying public policy dictates that candidates receiving the highest votes should be proclaimed without unnecessary delay.

In his motion, Jalosjos also claimed that F. Jalosjos’s filing of a certificate of candidacy was a “grand deception” and that he could be considered a nuisance candidate.

“Moreover, contrary to the Court’s ruling, the fact that Petitioner Frederico is a member of a legitimate political party does not automatically mean that he cannot be considered as a nuisance candidate especially when there is overwhelming evidence that proves him so,” the motion read.

According to Gialogo, their camp will respect the SC’s decision on the appeal. But he added that should the Court rule in their favor, they will file a petition before the HRET.

“Mag fa-file po kami ng protesta sa HRET at ang ground ng aming protesta ay mali ang kanyang proclamation dahil meron ngang nuisance candidate. So kung sakaling pumabor ang Surpeme Court sa aming MR, gagamitin namin ang decision ng Supreme Court sa HRET,” he said.

(We will file a protest in the HRET and the ground of our protest will be that his proclamation is wrong because there is a nuisance candidate. So if the Supreme Court rules in favor of our MR, we will use the decision of the Supreme Court before the HRET.) 

GMA News Online has reached out to Uy's camp but he has yet reply as of posting time. —VAL, GMA Integrated News