SC denies Antique gov's plea to stop his poll disqualification

The Supreme Court denied the petition of ousted Antique Governor Exequiel Javier seeking the issuance of an injunction to prevent his disqualification as ordered last month by the Commission on Election.

SC spokesperson, lawyer Theodore Te, said that, instead of a temporary restraining order, the Court en banc directed the Comelec to respond to Javier's petition filed last January 22 and 26 for an injunction on his ouster.

"The Court directed respondents to submit their comment to the application for a TRO within a non-extendible period of five days from notice," Te said in a report from interaksyon.com

The Comelec disqualified Javier last January 12, based on a complaint filed by former Lakas- CMD secretary general Raymundo Roquero and party-mate Cornelio Aldon.

The complaint stemmed from Javier's decision to suspend on January 2013 Roquero's wife, Mary Joyce, who at that time was the mayor of Valderrama town, allegedly for an administrative offense.

The complainants argued that her suspension violated the Omnibus Election Code prohibiting the suspension of elective officials during the election period.

The disqualification order was followed by the Comelec's issuance of a writ of execution against Javier on January 23. Javier then elevated the case to the SC. — From the wires