The Commission on Elections Second Division in Manila has sent summons with a notice of conference to Mayor Oscar Montilla and Vice Mayor Gina Montilla Lizares of Sipalay City in Negros Occidental.

The two Sipalay officials were ordered to file their answer to a petition filed by city resident Rodolfo Divinagracia for the cancellation of their Certificates of Candidacy, within five days from receipt of the summons.

Their failure to submit their verified answer within the reglementary period will bar them from submitting controverting evidence, the COMELEC Second Division said.

A conference on the case is set at the COMELEC office in Intramuros, Manila 2 p.m. November 8.

Suarez is set to serve the summons today.

Montilla had said earlier that the petition for cancellation of his CoC, along with that of his vice mayor, is absolutely without basis.

Divinagracia filed a petition before the COMELEC head office in Manila to cancel the CoCs of the two Sipalay officials for allegedly being green card holders.

That classifies Montilla and Lizares as permanent residents of the United States, Divinagracia said.

Montilla, however, denied that he and Lizares are green card holders. His vice mayor does not even have a US visa, he said.*CPG

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