FORMER Representative Benjie Agarao has formally lodged a petition for disqualification against rival candidate Atty. Tony Carolino, intensifying the already volatile congressional contest in Laguna’s 4th district.
The petition was filed before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila, by Agarao’s legal team. The move is a direct response to a prior disqualification case initiated by Carolino, who had accused Agarao of vote buying.
In their official statement, Atty. Edward Gialogo, Agarao’s counsels, categorically denied the allegations and challenged the credibility of the evidence presented in the earlier case. They asserted that the affidavits submitted against their client were spurious and claimed that certain affiants had been monetarily compensated to execute false statements.
“This petition seeks to expose and hold accountable those who manipulate legal processes for political gain. The fabricated nature of the evidence against our client is not only defamatory but constitutes a serious abuse of the judicial system,” said Agarao’s legal counsel.
As of press time, Carolino’s camp has yet to issue a formal response to the disqualification case filed against him.
The legal confrontation underscores the deepening political rivalry between the two candidates, both vying for the lone congressional seat of Laguna’s 4th district. Observers note that the escalating legal maneuvers could have broader implications for electoral integrity and public order as the campaign period intensifies.
