Comelec: Second Osmeña in Cebu City mayoral race, a ‘nuisance’

CEBU CITY, Philippines — There is now only one Osmeña in Cebu City’s mayoral race.

This after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) En Banc affirmed the earlier decision of the poll body’s second division declaring Paulino Osmeña a nuisance candidate.

Paulino Osmeña filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) as an independent candidate on October 22, 2018, making him the second Osmeña vying for the mayoral post along with incumbent Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and two other independent candidates.

Read more: Comelec declares as nuisance candidate another Osmeña running for mayor in Cebu City

In a February 1 order, the Comelec Second Division granted the petition of Mayor Osmeña and declared Mr. Osmeña as a nuisance candidate, thereby disqualifying him, because of his having a similar surname with the reelectionist mayor may draw “confusion” among voters and that “based on record, he did not have a bona fide intention to run.”

But on February 19, Paulino Osmeña asked the Comelec to reconsider his disqualification.

He said that his running was out of genuine concern for the city.

He added that he already drew support through his social media page after he filed his COC.

But the Comelec En Banc, in an order promulgated on May 2, 2019, said that Paulino Osmeña failed to present sufficient evidence that could merit a reconsideration of his disqualification.

The order also said that the votes that would be cast for Paulino Osmeña would be counted for Mayor Osmeña./dbs