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BY MERIANNE GARCE EERÑETA
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ILOILO City – Jesus “Jing-jing” Espinosa Jr. is no longer a councilman of Barangay Monica-Blumentritt, City Proper, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
His conviction for frustrated murder automatically stripped him of his post, said Regional Director Anthony Nuyda.
Who will replace him in the barangay council?
According to City Administrator Hernando Galvez, it’s up to the barangay council of Monica-Blumentritt to make a nomination.
Citing the Local Government Code, Galvez said the city mayor has the task to approve or disapprove the barangay council’s nominee.
Espinosa was elected No. 1 barangay councilman of Monica-Blumentritt in the 2013 barangay election.
According to Nuyda, if a barangay official is convicted, his post is automatically considered vacant.
Espinosa, along with Robinito “Bord” Malaga and Cris Rudy Balidiong, were charged with frustrated murder on Jan. 21, 2003 for shooting Mark Serra, a resident of Barangay Monica-Blumentritt, on Nov. 24, 2002. The three of them were convicted by the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 31.
In 2012, the Supreme Court affirmed their conviction but due to the topsy-turvy filing system of case records at the RTC, their imprisonment was not implemented. The following year, Espinosa ran for barangay councilman in Monica-Blumentritt.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) appeared clueless about Espinosa’s conviction. City Election Officer Jonathan Sayno said they did not receive any disqualification complaint against then candidate Espinosa.
Sayno also clarified that Comelec field offices do not have the power to immediately disqualify anyone filing a certificate of candidacy with legal issues such as a conviction.
“Sa field offices, ministerial ang function sang Comelec when it comes sa pagbaton sang mga certificates of candidacy,” said Sayno.
He also said there’s a prescribed period within which anyone can file complaint against the candidacy of anybody.
On Tuesday, Espinosa surrendered to RTC, Branch 31 that convicted him. He was remitted to the Iloilo Provincial Integrated Jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo.
Espinosa given a prison sentence of eight years maximum as accomplice to the crime of frustrated murder./PN
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