MANILA, Philippines – A local political party allied with the Chiongbians of Sarangani Province has filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a disqualification case against Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
In its petition, the Sarangani Reconciliation and Reformation Organization (SARRO) said Pacquiao is not a legitimate resident of Sarangani Province, which makes him ineligible to run as representative of the lone congressional district.
SARRO, a local political party founded by the late Congressman James Chiongbian, said Pacquiao fooled the Comelec when he declared that he officially transferred from General Santos City to Kiamba town, Sarangani Province in December 2008.
The party, which endorsed the congressional bid of businessman Roy Chiongbian, said that based on documents they gathered, Pacquiao’s house was constructed only in April 2009.
The party’s lawyer, Danielito Jimenez, added that they also learned that Pacquiao has not actually lived in the newly-constructed house in Kiamba town, and that the boxing icon is still using his residence in General Santos City as his official mailing address.
The case was filed following the Comelec’s junking of a similar disqualification case filed by Pacquiao’s camp against Chiongbian.
The Comelec First Division on Wednesday dismissed the disqualification case against Chiongbian due to lack of merit.
It said that Chiongbian was able to accomplish the one-year residency requirement for a congressional candidate, which makes him eligible to run in the May 10 local elections.
Pacquiao’s local political party, People’s Champ Movement (PCM), earlier lodged a petition to bar Chiongbian from running in Sarangani Province since he is not a resident of the province. It also alleged that Chiongbian gave false information in his election papers. Report from Anthony Taberna, ABS-CBN News
