The Supreme Court dismissed the petition questioning the decision of the Commission on Elections to declare Roel Degamo as governor of Negros Oriental.
In a statement on Tuesday, January 14, the high tribunal affirmed the decision of the COMELEC Second Division to declare Grego 'Ruel Degamo' Gaudia as a nuisance candidate, and credit the votes that he obtained to Degamo
The decision brought the votes garnered by Degamo up to 331,726 and nullified the win of Pryde Henry Teves, who received 301,319 in the 2022 elections.
"The Court found that the Commission on Election (COMELEC) en banc did not commit grave abuse of discretion in issuing its Resolution," the Supreme Court said in a statement.
"Ultimately, the Court found no grave abuse of discretion in the counting the votes garnered by the nuisance candidate Ruel G. Degamo in favor of Roel R. Degamo," the statement further read.
Supreme Court also ruled that COMELEC did not violate the right to due process of Teves.
"Moreso, the number of votes he has garnered will remain the same, with the Comelec proceeding merely on the appreciation of the votes cast by the voters and determine whether all of the votes obtained by the declared nuisance candidate will have to be credited in favor of the declared real candidate," the tribunal explained.
