Marinduque board of canvassers defies comelec
- Published : Monday, May 20, 2013 00:00
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In what is described as a brazen defiance and blatant disregard of the power and authority of the Comelec En Banc, the Provincial Board of Canvassers of Marinduque composed of Regional DIrector Emmanuel Ignacio (who replaced Provincial Election Supervisor Edwin Villa), Prosecutor Bimbo Mercado and Magdalena Lim proclaimed candidate Regina O. Reyes as the elected representative of the lone district of Marinduque Saturday afternoon at Boac, Marinduque.
Re-electionist Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco protested the proclamation and denouncing it as “highly irregular, illegal and premature” in view of the May l4, 20l3 ruling.
Velasco, son of Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, stressed the PBOC should have suspended the proclamation in the meantime to await the Supreme Court’s action on the challenged resolution.
The Comelec issued a resolution last May l4, denying with finality the motion for reconsideration of Reyes of the March 27, 2013 Resolution finding her to be a U.S. citizen and ineligible for the position of representative.
Reyes admitted she did not avail of Republic Act. No. 9225 for the reacquisition of Philippine citizenship.
Velasco sought the annulment of Reyes’ proclamation for being null and void and without any legal and constitutional basis since Reyes is not qualified for the position.
Velasco vowed to take necessary legal actions against the “highly anomalous and premature”proclamation of Reyes.
Velasco said Marinduqueños are bewildered by Reyes’ proclamation since the PBOC is under the Comelec En Banc and is required to comply with and obey all resolutions and orders of the Commission.
“They are aghast at the thought that a U.S. citizen will represent them in the House of Representatives in violation of Section 6, Article VI of the Constitution that only a natural-born Filipino citizen is qualified to become a congressman,” he said.
Repost from Journal Online
