Bacolod City Election Registrar Mavil Majarucon-Sia went to Brgy. Granada yesterday to serve the summons for mayoralty bet Julius Sayson at his house in Purok 7, but his relatives refused to receive it.

The summons is in relation to the disqualification case filed by Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson against Julius Sayson, who however, was not home and only his aunt, Corazon Gallardo, and uncle, Eddie Gallardo, were at the house.

They, however, refused to receive the COMELEC summons saying they were advised by their relatives not to sign anything.

Provincial COMELEC supervisor Jessie Suarez, who accompanied Majarucon-Sia, said, that, under the rules, if the respondent is not around, any person of legal age and knows how to write and read can receive the summons.

In the event that the person or persons at the house of the respondent decline to accept the summons, the server can just note the refusal and send it back to the commission’s national office and it will still be considered served, Suarez said.

On October 10, the COMELEC first division, through commission clerk Ma. Josefina Dela Cruz, directed Julius Sayson to personally, or through his authorized representative, file a verified answer to the disqualification case filed against him by the Vice Mayor on October 8, this year, within five days after he receives the notice.

De la Cruz also stressed that a motion to dismiss will not be admitted but grounds may be raised in his defense and if he fails to give his reply, he will be barred from controverting evidence.

She also said that Julius Sayson is also notified that a conference on the case filed against him by the Vice Mayor, who is also his relative, is set on October 22 at 2 p.m. at the COMELEC session hall in Manila and if he will also fail to attend or to send a legal counsel, the petition against him will be resolved in favor of Vice Mayor Sayson, she said.

WHERE IS JULIUS?

Corazon Gallardo said her nephew communicated with them through text, and told them not to worry about him because he is just in Bacolod.

She said her nephew is not receiving death threats and is not in hiding.

Asked if they will vote for Julius, Corazon and her husband Eddie said they will.

Vice Mayor Sayson reiterated that the fact that Julius could not be seen, heightens their suspicion that someone is handling him.

He stressed that if Julius is, indeed, serious in his desire to serve the public, he should have shown up after filing, then roam around Bacolod and tell the people to vote for him, instead of keeping away from the public eye.*APN

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