Jalosjos laments ‘unresolved’ motions

The camp of former Zamboanga del Norte First District Representative Romeo Jalosjos Jr. cried foul over the unresolved motions of reconsideration it filed along with the motions of the Office of the Solicitor General over the reversal of the lawmaker's proclamation as the poll winner.

This comes as the Commission on Elections officially proclaimed on 10 November 2023 Roberto Uy as the province's first district representative based on the decision of the Supreme Court last 8 August 2023.

Jalosjos' lead counsel Atty. Edward Gialogo stressed that the motions left unresolved by the Supreme Court may result in a "constitutional crisis which is disruptive of the jurisprudential precepts laid down by no less than the Honorable High Court."

"This results in an absurd situation wherein it is impossible for the SC to grant the Motions for Reconsideration filed by the OSG and Romeo Jalosjos, Jr.," he added.

To recall, the camp of Jalosjos filed on 5 November 2023 a motion for reconsideration while another was separately filed by the OSG on behalf of the Comelec.

The OSG insisted in its motion that the SC lacked jurisdiction and merit over the case, adding that jurisdiction of the case belonged to the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal upon the proclamation of Jalosjos last 23 June 2022 by the Comelec Provincial Board of Canvassers and took oath on the same day.

Jalosjos' camp, on the other hand, explained in its appeal that the candidate identified as Frederico Jalosjos — who was declared a nuisance candidate — only recently changed his name at the local civil registry office to get the "Jalosjos" surname.

It added that the certain Frederico Jalosjos entered the election race as a substitute candidate of a certain Lester Uy Ong, who is allegedly the first cousin of Uy.

"The filing of a Certificate of Candidacy by Frederico Jalosjos is a planned grand deception to get votes from our camp; this might set an unlawful precedent of mocking the electoral process in any future election," said Jalosjos' camp.

"The people of the first district of Zamboanga Del Norte have shown their disapproval of this mockery by voting in favor of allied candidates in the recently held barangay elections where 92 percent of positions vied for within the first district of Zamboanga del Norte have been won by our allies," it added.