By Dominic dela Cruz
LAOAG CITY—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has “dismissed with finality” the election protest filed by former Laoag Mayor Michael Marcos Keon against elected Laoag Mayor James Bryan Alcid.
Alcid was happy that the Comelec dismissed the protest filed by the former mayor.
“Maragsakan tayo tapnu metla maka traaho tayon iti husto ked erederetso with no hindrances,” the mayor said.
City government administrator Atty. Ed Von Cid, in an earlier interview, confirmed the dismissal of the case filed by Keon against Alcid.
Cid said he received via email the certificate of finality and entry of judgment regarding the election protest.
According to Cid, the mayor has no plan to “counter” the former mayor rather the mayor said it is time to move on since the final result has been declared, and politicking should be over now.
He added that since there is already the finality of judgment, the former mayor has no more legal recourse that may be filed in order to resurrect the case or even for the Comelec to reconsider the August 19, 2025 decision.
He noted that the decision of “finality” was issued due to insufficiency of evidence from the time the protest was filed.
“Ibig sabihin walang mga specific or enough documentary and testimonial evidence to prove that there is indeed a violation made by mayor Alcid na sinasabing napigilan ang mga tao na pumunta sa presinto para bumoto, massive vote buying and violence,” Cid stressed.
