The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified the councilor-elect of Tabuk City, Kalinga, for material misrepresentation of his residency.
RH 41 Romy Gonzales reported on Saturday, May 17, that the Comelec did not proclaim the anti-corruption advocate Atty. Errol Comafay. Despite garnering the highest votes, the prominent lawyer was disqualified from serving as a councilor.
According to the report, the disqualification stemmed from a material misrepresentation in his Certificate of Candidacy (COC), where Comafay listed his address as “Taraki National Road, Purok 5, Bulano, Tabuk City.”
Based on the petition filed by Paquinto Sallaya on October 16, 2024, “Taraki National Road” does not exist. The petition noted that it was also verified with the Bulanao barangay captain.
Gonzales furthered that the critical issue was a minor punctuation error in Comafay’s listed address. The report clarified that it should have been “Taraki, National Road,” highlighting the distinct location of Taraki along the National Road.
However, Comelec’s Second Division resolution last February 6, 2025, ruled that Comafay deliberately misrepresented his residence, citing the violation of electoral integrity and residency requirements.
Comafay failed to submit the required evidence to refute the claim. Moreover, his motion for reconsideration was also denied by the Comelec en banc on April 4, 2025. He was also unable to obtain a Supreme Court restraining order to block the poll body’s decision.
His votes were considered invalid, resulting in the exclusion of his name among those proclaimed in the city.
