capiz gov faces poll raps

February 9th, 2:30am February 8th, 9:48pm Francis Earl A. Cueto

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered Capiz Gov. Antonio del Rosario to submit within three days his counter affidavit as to why he should not be disqualified to run in the coming elections.

The order came after his main critic and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino provincial chairman Essex Quintina accused him of allegedly violating various provisions of the Omnibus Election Code.

In his petition, Quintina claimed Del Rosario appointed a relative to a government position who was running for a mayoral post in Roxas City.

The Comelec First Division which is hearing the case said, Del Rosario needs to answer the allegations otherwise it will decide based on the merits.

Earlier, the camp of Del Rosario had filed a petition before the poll body asking it to dismiss the charges slapped against him for lack of merit.

In an interview, Quintina admitted that he is a supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte but denied the complaints against Del Rosario who belongs to the opposition, saying they were politically motivated.

Quintina has been hot on the tails of Del Rosario.

Previously, he filed separate graft raps against him before the Office of the President.

Del Rosario, meanwhile, said he is ready to face the accusations and had expressed confidence that they will be able to show the truth behind the allegations against him.