Tining fails to take oath and deliver speech again

CEBU, Philippines - For the third time, former Bogo Mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III failed to take his oath of office at the House of Representatives yesterday and Rep. Benhur Salimbangon has continued to attend the session.

The Supreme Court, through Maria Lourdes Perfecto, chief of Judicial Records informed Salimbangon’s lawyer Delon Richel Ramon Urot that no entry of judgment can be made while the motion for leave to file second motion for reconsideration and second motion for reconsideration are still pending.

Urot said that in view of this latest Supreme Court order Martinez cannot take his oath at the Plenary Hall of Congress.

Martinez wanted to take his oath yesterday and deliver a privilege speech, but could not do so, because of the recent Supreme Court order.

It can be recalled that the Court en banc promulgated a decision on January 12 on the petition G.R. No. 189034 (Celestino A. Martinez III vs. House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal and Benhur Salimbangon).

Such decision declared Martinez as the winner in the congressional race in the 4th District during the May 2007 elections.

On January 13, Salimbangon filed a motion for reconsideration to overturn the said decision but on January 19, the Supreme Court denied with finality the said motion.

On January 25, the Supreme Court received Urot’s motion for leave to file second motion for reconsideration and second motion for reconsideration.

On January 26, the Supreme Court granted the urgent motion to withdraw/recall the urgent motion for leave to file a second motion for reconsideration filed by Salimbangon’s Manila lawyer Sixto Brillantes and such withdrawal was noted without action in view of the said resolution.

The Freeman tried to contact Martinez for comment, but he was not available as of press time. — Mitchelle l. Palaubsanon/NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)