PRISCA Niña Mabatid is the duly elected captain of Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.
Judge Monalila Tecson of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities branch 1 dismissed for lack of merit the quo warranto petition filed by Mabatid’s political rival, lawyer Daniel Francis Arguedo. The petition seeks to nullify Mabatid’s election.
Arguedo’s petition is “insufficient and inconclusive” to support his claim of Mabatid’s lack of the statutory requisite residency, the judge ruled.
“Mabatid’s proclamation as duly elected punong barangay should be affirmed and respected considering her electoral mandate of 6,147 votes against Arguedo’s 4,683 votes during the elections,” read Tecson’s order.
Interviewed after the promulgation, Mabatid said she was elated by the court decision.
“Truth finally prevailed. I never anticipated it. I am thankful for the very fair decision of the court,” said Mabatid.
She said she will now focus her energy on giving basic services and infrastructure projects to her constituents.
Arguedo filed a quo warranto petition seeking to annul the proclamation of Mabatid as the winning captain of Barangay Mabolo during the May 14 elections.
Arguedo argued that Mabatid failed to comply with the residency requirement when she ran for barangay captain.
In his petition, Arguedo said that Mabatid resides on Sunflower Drive, Sunnyhills, Barangay Talamban, as shown in her pleadings filed in court and other public documents submitted to various government agencies. Among the documents Arguedo submitted in court to prove Mabatid’s residency in Talamban were a labor case document, deed of absolute sale, and a request for investigation before the National Bureau of Investigation.
During the hearing of the petition, Mabatid’s counsel, Delon Richel Urot, argued that the defendant is a resident and registered voter of Barangay Mabolo.
He said the Mabatid clan even has an ancestral house in Barangay Mabolo, where her mother, Salud, is still residing.
In the decision, Judge Tecson ruled that the petition ought to be dismissed after Mabatid had satisfied the court with her residency requirements. GMD