Mayor Baldo to stay a candidate despite arrest warrant — Comelec
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 07 May 2019 07:10:49 +0000
EMBATTLED Mayor Carlwyn Baldo of Daraga, Albay will remain a candidate even if a warrant of arrest has been issued against him over his alleged connection to the assassination of Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said on Tuesday that the issuance of a warrant of arrest against a candidate was not a ground for disqualification.
“It does not affect his candidacy. It does not disqualify him. So if he gets arrested, he gets arrested. Let’s hope for an orderly administration of justice,” he added.
Jimenez said one may only be disqualified upon conviction, stressing that an accused remains innocent until proven guilty.
“We can only disqualify a candidate after a final conviction,” he said.
The warrant of arrest against Baldo was served by the police on Monday but he was not at his residence and was now considered a fugitive.
Jimenez reiterated that even reeelctionist candidates on the narcolist of the President, the police or the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) cannot be disqualified. WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL
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