Pedro Perez, Municipal President of Medellin, Cebu

A Cebuano politician faced the same challenge as that of a former president of our country, who was convicted of a crime, pardoned by the president then ran for mayor and his election questioned before the Supreme Court. Such was the case of a municipal president although the crime was so severe as compared to what was committed by the Cebuano leader. Here is his story:

Pedro Perez, on June 20, 1914, was convicted, with others, of the crime of assault against a person in authority in criminal case number 3447 of the Court of First Instance of Cebu, which judgment in its disposing part says:

"Considering the plea of guilty entered by the defendants in open court and taking into account the circumstances surrounding the act complained of, the court finds that the penalty provided by law, even if imposed in the minimum degree, is exaggerated and too severe, wherefore while this court sentences each of the defendants to the penalty of two years, four months and one day of prision correccional and the payment of a fine of 625 pesetas each, and, in case of insolvency, to suffer the corresponding subsidiary imprisonment, yet it is resolved to recommend to the Honorable Governor-General the commutation of this penalty to three months for each of the defendants, for it is believed that this punishment is more sufficient, specially it is taken into consideration that these defendants have already been administratively punished, being as they are suspended from their respective offices."

The clerk is hereby ordered to send a certified copy of this judgment to the Chief Executive for such action as may be deemed proper."

The Presiding Judge who handled the case of Pedro Perez was Judge Bartolome Revilla. Upon receipt of the decision, the Governor General, who acted as the country's Chief Executive at that time since when only have our 1st President in the person of Manuel Quezon in 1935, reduced the penalty of Pedro Perez and co-accused.

The order of Governor General Francis Burton Harrison dated August 5, 1914 reads:

"By authority of the President of the United States, and upon the recommendation of the Chief of Constabulary, the sentence in the case of Pedro Perez and Vicente Perez, both convicted by the Court of First Instance of Cebu of "atentado contra is autoridad" and each sentenced on June 20, 1914, to imprisonment for two years, four months and one day to pay fine of 625 pesetas, or in case of insolvency, to suffer subsidiary imprisonment in lieu thereof, is hereby commuted to imprisonment of six months, with good conduct time allowance."

Almost a decade after, Pedro Perez ran for the position of Municipal President of Medellin in an election held on June 6, 1922 of which he won. Pedro Perez on October 16, 1922 entered upon the discharge of the functions of the office of Municipal President of Medellin.

His assumption of office was however challenged by his opponents arguing that he had no right to such office, not being a qualified voter, inasmuch as he had been convicted in the crime of assault against a person in authority.

Pedro Perez lost the case before the Court of First Instance and upon appeal before the Supreme Court the latter in a decision dated August 28, 1924 reversed the decision of the lower court and he was acquitted. Pedro Perez was assisted by the legal giants of Cebu at that time like Dionisio Jakosalem, Paulino Gullas, Manuel C. Briones and Cabahug.

Pedro Perez succeeded Julian Tumulak as Municipal President of Medellin. Perez was succeeded in 1923 by Marcos Munasque, then by Jose Ancajas (the position 1934 as local chief executive was changed to mayor), then by Julian Tumulak, Jose Gelig, Ignacio Rodriguez, Sabas Quijano, then by Max B. Dublin.

In 1964 these were the officials of Medellin: Maximo B. Dublin, Mayor, Alfonso G. Lim, Vice Mayor, Teodoro F. Lim, Judge, Hermenegildo Lobitana, Chief of Police. As councilors: Cipriano Noynay, Romualdo Villapez, Lorenzo Rosos, Marciano Mondigo, Pantaleon Sequino, Zacarias Yaun, Delfinito Montesclaros and Celerino Uy.