The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico tonight issued a resolution proposing the candidate’s petition by direct nomination to the mayor of Guánica, Edgardo Cruz Vélez, before the highest forum exercising jurisdiction over the election challenge in the municipality.
According to the resolution, the request for certification within the jurisdiction resulted in the Supreme Court being evenly divided by 4 votes in favor and 4 against, which is why the No Place was declared.
Associate Judge Martínez Torres issued a statement agreeing with what had been decided by the Court, stating that “the Supreme Court cannot become the forum of first instance, according to the whims of the parties.”
First, the primary forum is fully capable of resolving this appeal with the urgency it deserves. This has been the case in each of the controversies the Court of First Instance dealt with during this electoral cycle. Secondly, before our hearing, the appeal is at an early stage in the process. Therefore, we must allow the primary forum to continue the proceedings and attend the accompanying evidence, “the advisory advises.
On the other hand, examining magistrate Estrella Martínez issued a specific phrase claiming that ‘the device in question must be certified in view of the democratic emergency in the municipality of Guánica. That is to say, I believe that mere formalities and technical aspects unnecessarily delay the implementation of the will of the Guánica voters. “
The electoral and legal team of Ismael ‘Titi’ Rodríguez, who was already sworn in as mayor, are expected to go to court to challenge the trial that resulted in Cruz Vélez’s favor.
On Friday, the EEC awarded 27 votes to the candidate by direct nomination, leading them in the race for mayor of Guánica.
The Supreme Court’s decision would mean that the case to contest the election will continue its way into the Court of First Instance.