Penera alone filed an Answer[7] to the Petition on 19 April 2007, averring that the charge of premature campaigning was not true. Although Penera admitted that a motorcade did take place, she explained that it was simply in accordance with the usual practice in nearby cities and provinces, where the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) was preceded by a motorcade, which dispersed soon after the completion of such filing. In fact, Penera claimed, in the motorcade held by her political party, no person made any speech, not even any of the candidates. Instead, there was only marching music in the background and a grand standing for the purpose of raising the hands of the candidates in the motorcade. Finally, Penera cited Barroso v. Ampig[8] in her defense, wherein the Court supposedly ruled that a motorcade held by candidates during the filing of their COCs was not a form of political campaigning. Also on 19 April 2007, Andanar and Penera appeared with their counsels before the ORED-Region XIII, where they agreed to submit their position papers and other evidence in support of their allegations.[9] After the parties filed their respective Position Papers, the records of the case were transmitted to the COMELEC main office in Manila for adjudication. It was subsequently raffled to the COMELEC Second Division. While SPA No. 07-224 was pending before the COMELEC Second Division, the 14 May 2007 elections took place and, as a result thereof, Penera was proclaimed the duly elected Mayor of Sta. Monica. Penera soon assumed office on 2 July 2002. On 24 July 2007, the COMELEC Second Division issued its Resolution in SPA No. 07-224, penned by Commissioner Nicodemo T. Ferrer (Ferrer), which disqualified Penera from continuing as a mayoralty candidate in Sta. Monica, for engaging in premature campaigning, in violation of Sections 80 and 68 of the Omnibus Election Code.