The municipal elections of Ginatilan, Cebu in 1980

During the general elections held on January 30, 1980, the candidates for mayor in Ginalitan, Cebu were Antonio O. Singco under the banner of the National Union for Liberation  and Franklin Ong of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan.

The National Union for Liberation was the opposition party that challenged the administration of President Marcos, while the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan was the political party created by Marcos.

Antonio O. Singco was voted for and elected mayor of Ginatilan, Cebu having obtained the highest number of votes. However, before the elections, on January 16, 1980 Franklin Ong filed a petition to disqualify Singco on ground of turncoatism (changing of political parties). Ong attached three affidavits and other documentary evidence to support his allegations against Singco.

The Commission on Elections sent on January 31, 1980 a telegram ordering the Municipal Board of Canvassers to suspend the proclamation of Antonio O. Singco. Despite the COMELEC No. 8584, the Municipal Board of Canvassers still proceeded to proclaim Singco as mayor of Ginalitan, Cebu.

Franklin Ong informed the COMELEC of the action of the Municipal Board of Canvassers and moved that the proclamation of Singco as Mayor be set aside. The COMELEC acted favorably on the request of Ong and set aside the proclamaton of Singco as Mayor. The COMELEC also ordered the Municipal Board of Canvassers to explain why no disciplinary actions should be taken against them.

The COMELEC on February 26, 1980 issued Resolution No. 9310 declaring Antonio O. Singco a disqualified candidate. The chairman of the COMELEC, Leonardo B. Perez, protested the decision of his fellow commissioners, however he was with the minority. Chairman Perez opined that the winner (Singco) should be proclaimed without prejudice to the disqualification case to be heard and decided.

Antonio O. Singco went to the Supreme Court and was granted a restraining order on March 6, 1980. The Supreme Court ordered the COMELEC not to implement its resolution. Before the order of the Supreme Court could be implemented, Mayor Ong designated Jaime Calungsod a newly elected member of the Sangguniang Bayan who received the second most number of votes as the Officer in Charge of the Municipality of Ginatilan, Cebu.

The Supreme Court said that the COMELEC resolution disqualifying Antonio O. Singco produced no legal effect and the latter was validly voted and his proclamation legal. The Supreme Court En Banc on November 28, 1980 nullified the resolution of the COMELEC and restored the proclamation of Antonio O. Singco as mayor of Ginatilan, Cebu.

In 1964, these were the officials of Ginatilan, Cebu: Nicomedes F. Humuad, Mayor, Camilo Singco, Vice Mayor, Luisa Ferrenal, Municipal Secretary, Francisco Villarojo, Judge, Indalesio Janea, Treasurer, Fructuoso Oradoy, Chief of Police, Dr. Trifina Ferraren, Health Officer. The Councilors were: Justina Tocao, Victor Mascardo, Clemente Abello, Leoncio Awaya, Felix Ferraren, and Felipe Nadela.

The following held the position as Capitan Municipal/Municipal President: Justiniano Ferolin, Martin Peronal, Andres Singco, Gabriel Visitacion, Justiniano Jabido, Mariano Cedono, Maximo Guerrero, Teodoro Cadungog, Pedro Tocao, Inocencio Singco, Antonio Vizcayno, Agaton Quinones, Silvino Singco, Antonio Singco, Simeon Cedeno, Herminigildo Petras, German Ferraren, Pablo Vismanes, Mariano Singco, Alejo Omictin, Tito Singco, Juan Cedeno, Luis Ferenal, Jose Anito and Lorenzo Pancho.