Manila, May 1 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has canceled the certificate of candidacy (COC) of former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. for the May 2022 national and local elections (NLE).

In a resolution dated April 30, the seven-man panel granted the Motion for Reconsideration filed by petitioner Romeo Momo for false misrepresentation in the respondent's COC.

The petitioner noted that Pichay Jr. has stated in his COC that he is eligible to run for public office even after being found guilty of grave misconduct by the Ombudsman in the decision of Tutol et al. vs. Pichay Jr. dated July 4, 2011, which carried an accessory penalty of disqualification to hold public office.

"The alleged false misrepresentation made by Pr...