Associate Justice Kathleen Salii considered on Tuesday the TRO filed by legislator candidate Oliver Kasiano, seeking to stop the PEC from certifying the result of the 15th Angaur Sate General Election held on Nov. 2 and prepare an official certification of the results of said election after the tabulation of the absentee ballots. The absentee voting was held on Nov. 9.
The TRO stated that if the PEC certifies anyone of the five candidates, namely, Warren Fukuichi, Ignacio Santiago, Flavin Misech, Rodrick Blanco and Wilbur Telei Jr. as winning candidates for the Olbiil Era Ngeaur as a result of the election on Nov. 2, then such certification will be in violation of the Angaur State Constitution.
Pursuant to the State’s Constitution, any member of the OEN must be physically residing in Angaur State while in office.
The TRO will remain in effect until the motion for preliminary injunction on the first amended complaint filed by Kasiano is heard on Dec. 6.
Kasiano filed his amended complaint after the preliminary injunction he filed asking the court to stop the PEC from printing the names of the defendants Fukuichi, Santiago, Misech, Blanco, and Telei on the official ballot for Angaur State General Election was denied.
Kasiano earlier filed a complaint in court stating that Fukuichi, Santiago, Misech, Blanco and Telei do not meet the residency requirement, and therefore they are not qualified to run for office in Angaur.
Kasiano said the five candidates physically reside in Koror and are also employed in Koror and Ngerulmud.
Meanwhile, the certification of the Governor is set next week, according to the PEC.
Based on the unofficial results including the absentee votes, legislator Maria Gates is still leading against her two other opponents, incumbent Gov. Steven Salii and Natus MIsech.
Gates has 103 votes, while Salii got 83 votes and Misech garnered 52 votes.
For the legislature top five candidates, Leon Gulibert leads with 164 votes; Joshua Lewis, 142 votes; Carlos Ramon 140 votes; Warren Fukuichi, 117 votes; and Flavin Misech with 101 votes.
Angaur has 457 registered voters, but only 247 have cast their, votes including the 14 absentee voters.
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