FOLLOWING the decision of the Commission on Elections to declare Roel Degamo as the winning governor of Negros Occidental in the last 9 May elections, the legal team of incumbent Governor Henry Teves said the latter should not step down from his post.

Legal counsel Atty. Ferdinand Topacio stressed that Teves should continue serving the Negros Oriental people as governor as he was already proclaimed the winner of the gubernatorial race in the province.

The legal counsel also said that he had already taken his oath as governor.

To recall, the Comelec ordered Teves to vacate his post after ruling that the votes of the nuisance candidate by the name of Ruel Degamo should be counted to the former governor.

Topacio said that the move was not legal, saying that there was no quorum on the part of the Comelec to decide on the issue. He stressed that there should be at least four commissioners present to decide.

He added that Degamo has a pending case since he already ran for the gubernatorial post four times instead of three as provided by law.

Topacio also said that it should be the proper courts which will decide Teves’ fate in the provincial government of Negros Oriental.

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