Comelec unseats Cotabato City mayor
COTABATO CITY—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has unseated Mohammad Ali Matabalao as mayor of this capital city of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
This was contained in a resolution of the Comelec Second Division on the protest of Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, a former city mayor, over the result of the 2022 race.
On Wednesday night, Guiani-Sayadi, who ran under the Nationalist People’s Coalition in 2022, announced on social media her legal victory, showing a portion of the Comelec ruling.
She alleged irregularities in the conduct of the balloting in 36 clustered precincts that, she said, affected the outcome of the race for mayor.
In the ruling, the Comelec annulled the election results in the protested precincts “for having been irreparably tainted with irregularities and fraud that render the results devoid of probative value.”
With the annulled results excluded from the count, Guiani-Sayadi turned out to have the most number of votes for mayor.
As such, the poll body set aside the proclamation of Matabalao as winner of the 2022 mayoral race and declared Guiani-Sayadi as the duly elected mayor of Cotabato City.
“We will continue to pray despite these happenings, the truth will come out. I believe that the character of (a) leader is measured by their integrity and credibility. I chose to stand firmly despite my small voice,” Guiani-Sayadi said.
Matabalao, the candidate of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party in 2022, said that he already received the decision of the Comelec.
“I respect the decision and the legal processes. The decision is not final, as I will avail of the proper legal remedy. Please be assured that I am still your duly elected mayor and I will continue to serve Cotabato City,” Matabalao said.
Speaking before city government employees on Thursday morning, Matabalao said he was given five days to file a motion for reconsideration before the poll body.
Guiani-Sayadi and Matabalao urged their respective supporters to remain calm and respect the legal process.
Cotabato City election officer Dindo Maglasang told journalists on Thursday that the Comelec ruling “is not yet final and executory because both parties have legal remedies.”
He said Guiani-Sayadi could only assume the mayoral post should the Comelec en banc sustain the Second Division ruling.
Guiani-Sayadi and Matabalao are squaring off in the May 12 elections.
Recount
Meanwhile, Datu Armando Mastura Jr. on Wednesday assumed as new mayor of Sultan Mastura town in Maguindanao del Norte province after the Regional Trial Court Branch (RTC) 15 in Cotabato City declared him winner in the 2022 race against Zulficar Panda, who was earlier proclaimed as mayor.
Panda, through his lawyer, peacefully turned over the reins of the local government to Mastura.
Based on the results of the recount, Mastura garnered 5,804 votes, eight votes higher than Panda’s 5,796.
Mastura took his oath before RTC Branch 15 Judge Annabelle Piang on Wednesday morning.
Piang ruled on Mastura’s protest last month but Panda filed a motion for reconsideration, which was denied early this month.
Lawyer Aisa Mae Kanda, Panda’s counsel, said they respected the court decision and would focus on the May 12 election that will be a rematch between Panda and Mastura.
