By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Supreme Court (SC) junked the quo warranto petition filed by former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves against Governor Roel Ragay Degamo, in its decision on Tuesday, February 14.
It can be recalled in May of last year that Teves was declared the winner of the National and Local Elections.
However, a few months later, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc affirmed the resolution of its Second Division, declaring Grego “Ruel” Degamo as a nuisance candidate.
Teves’ proclamation as Negros Oriental governor was annulled and all votes obtained by Grego during the polls were credited in favor of Roel instead.
According to a press briefer released by the SC, the court ruled that a close examination of the documents with the list of candidates for governor in Negros Oriental would show the similarity between Roel Degamo and Ruel Degamo.
The SC pointed out from the certified list of voters and official ballot, it can also be observed that there is a noticeable likeness to the candidates’ names, and they are only distinguishable by one vowel.
Both candidates have also used the same surnames.
Furthermore, the Comelec Second Division also observed that Grego Gaudia Degamo only used “Ruel Degamo” during last year’s elections.
The SC further pointed out that Grego also used the surname of those who had taken custody of him even though he was not legally adopted by them.
“Ultimately, the Court found no grave abuse of discretion in the counting of the votes garnered by the nuisance candidate Ruel G. Degamo in favor of Roel R. Degamo,” the SC added in its official press briefer.
Following the release of the SC ruling, Governor Roel Degamo made a post on his official social media page.
“Justice has been served to the people of Negros Oriental,” he wrote on his post.
Teves stepped down as governor of Negros Occidental on October 11, 2022, after the Department of the Interior and Local Government asked him to vacate his post, as the Comelec decision was final and executory./DGB, WDJ