By Shiela Mae Butlig
Correspondent
PHIVIDEC Administrator Jose Gabrielle ‘Pompee’ La Viña, who is running for city mayor under the alliance of PaDayon Pilipino and Centrist Democratic Party, has failed to beat the deadline for the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy before the city office of the Commission on Elections.
In an interview, Tito Cruz, La Viñas’ information officer said Gil Banaag filed today instead of La Viña. Banaag filed his mayoral candidacy under the Partido Federal ng Maharlika.
According to Cruz, La Viñas’ failure to file today is due to Phividec-related matters.
He said the Phividec administrator has filed his resignation letter but is still pending approval.
“He has still to finish some (important) matters in Phividec,” he said.
He added that they will take advantage of the rule on substitution where La Viña can still file his candidacy until November 15.
In a short statement to Gold Star Daily, La Viña said: “100% I’m running and I will be the next mayor of (Cagayan de Oro).”
However, election rules allow last-minute substitutions only under two conditions.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez has told reporters that substitutions are allowed when it is a voluntary substitution, where an aspirant withdraws his intent to run to give way to a fellow party member gunning for the same post.
The other condition being that the aspirant died but the substitute aspirant must have the same surname.
Jimenez added that the substitute aspirant must be a member of the same political party and not just of a group that is part of an alliance. (With reports from Cong B. Corrales)