The Supreme Court leaves in the hands of the First Instance the challenge certification presented by the “enrollment candidate” in Guánica

The Supreme Court ruled that there is no place for a request for certification of the candidate within the jurisdiction by direct nomination to the Mayor of Guánica, Edgardo Cruz Velez, to respond to the challenge presented today to cancel the earlier certification that the popular candidate Ismael “Titi” Rodríguez Ramos of the State Election Commission (EEG), so the lawsuit is now in the hands of the Court of First Instance.

“After examination of the petition for certification within the jurisdiction filed by the petitioner because the court is evenly divided, it is declared inapplicable,” the high forum resolution read.

The objection was brought before the courts, as stipulated in the electoral law, after the EEC issued a new provisional certification Proclaim Cruz Vélez as the winner following the order of the Supreme Court to count all votes for the candidate on those ballots bearing his name, regardless of whether the voter has ticked the box corresponding to direct nomination.

“We should not be certified too late. At the whim of the parties, the Supreme Court cannot become the forum of first instance, ”said Examining Judge Rafael Martínez Torres, in a phrase accompanied by Examining Judge Roberto Feliberti Cintrón. The magistrate made it clear that the handling of the challenge submitted to the judge was the corresponding step.

“The primary forum is fully qualified to resolve this appeal with the urgency it deserves,” he added.

The judge also pointed out that Ismael “Titi” Rodríguez Ramos is likely to challenge the EEC’s new certification, so the Supreme Court must “allow the primary forum to receive the corresponding evidence and rule the controversy.” .

For his part, juror Luis Estrella Martínez pointed out in a particular phrase, accompanied by associate judges Erick Kolthoff Caraballo, Edgardo Rivera García and Mildred Pabón Charneco, that he had taken a different course ‘in the light of the democratic emergency the municipality of Guánica. “I believe that mere formalities and technicalities cannot hinder or unnecessarily delay the implementation of the will of the Guánica voters,” he said.

According to the EEC’s official certification, Cruz Vélez won with 2,411 votes, against 2,356 for Rodríguez, which was sworn in last Monday based on the EEC’s earlier statement and without waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision that an election case was underway.

With information from the journalist Gloria Ruiz Kuilan.