THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday proclaimed Shirlyn Banas-Nograles as the elected representative of the 1st legislative district of South Cotabato in the May 2019 polls.
“Congresswoman Shirlyn Banas-Nograles was proclaimed today. First District of South Cotabato includes General Santos City,” Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said in her Twitter account (@commrguanzon).
The Comelec had suspended the congressional elections in the 1st District of South Cotabato last May 13 in accordance with Republic Act No. 11243 which reapportioned the 1st district of South Cotabato by creating a separate legislative district for Gen. Santos City.
Subsequently, the poll body scheduled the congressional elections on Oct. 26 for the 1st and 3rd legislative districts of South Cotabato.
But the Supreme Court granted the petition of Banas-Nograles for the issuance of a status quo ante order against the Comelec’s resolution to reschedule the elections.
The SC also directed the Comelec to convene a special provincial board of canvassers to proclaim Banas-Nograles as the winning candidate in the 1st District of South Cotabato.
The Comelec decided not to challenge the SC decision. — Gerard Naval
