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By Raymund F. Antonio
Published: July 12, 2013 Reposted from Manila Bulletin
Manila, Philippines -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has annulled the proclamation of Marinduque congresswoman Regina Ongsiako Reyes and declared her political rival as the winning candidate.
The Comelec en banc, in a vote of 5-2, promulgated a resolution declaring re-electionist Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco as the true winner in the May 13 midterm polls.
In a scanned copy of the resolution given to media, it ruled that Reyes’ proclamation last May 18 is null and void.
“There being up to the present no order or resolution emanating from the Higher Courts restraining the implementation of the said certificate of finality, the Comelec is duty bound to implement its resolution cancelling the certificate of candidacy of respondent Ongsiako Reyes,” Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., said in his concurring opinion.
Brillantes and poll commissioners Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph, Grace Padaca, and Luie Guia voted in favor of affirming the earlier decision of the First Division, cancelling the certificate of candidacy of Reyes.
Those who issued dissenting opinion were poll commissioners Christian Robert Lim and Al Parreno.
The Comelec issued the resolution in line with the Supreme Court’s decision dated June 25 that dismissed her petition questioning her disqualification by the poll body.
The High Court affirmed the decision of the poll body’s First Division that Reyes is not qualified to run for being an American citizen.
Last March, the Comelec First Division presided by Yusoph cancelled the certificate of candidacy of Reyes, which was affirmed by the commission en banc in May that she was not a natural born Filipino citizen.
The SC also upheld the Comelec’s resolution, which held that Reyes lacked the required one-year residency in the province.
The resolution was received by the Provincial Board of Canvassers on May 15 and was served on counsel of Reyes, Nelia Aureus, the next day.
Despite said receipt, the PBOC under Assistant Election Director Emmanuel Ignacio proceeded to proclaim Reyes on May 18. This prompted Velasco’s camp to contest the proclamation.
The Comelec en banc, in a vote of 5-2, promulgated a resolution declaring re-electionist Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco as the true winner in the May 13 midterm polls.
In a scanned copy of the resolution given to media, it ruled that Reyes’ proclamation last May 18 is null and void.
“There being up to the present no order or resolution emanating from the Higher Courts restraining the implementation of the said certificate of finality, the Comelec is duty bound to implement its resolution cancelling the certificate of candidacy of respondent Ongsiako Reyes,” Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., said in his concurring opinion.
Brillantes and poll commissioners Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph, Grace Padaca, and Luie Guia voted in favor of affirming the earlier decision of the First Division, cancelling the certificate of candidacy of Reyes.
Those who issued dissenting opinion were poll commissioners Christian Robert Lim and Al Parreno.
The Comelec issued the resolution in line with the Supreme Court’s decision dated June 25 that dismissed her petition questioning her disqualification by the poll body.
The High Court affirmed the decision of the poll body’s First Division that Reyes is not qualified to run for being an American citizen.
Last March, the Comelec First Division presided by Yusoph cancelled the certificate of candidacy of Reyes, which was affirmed by the commission en banc in May that she was not a natural born Filipino citizen.
The SC also upheld the Comelec’s resolution, which held that Reyes lacked the required one-year residency in the province.
The resolution was received by the Provincial Board of Canvassers on May 15 and was served on counsel of Reyes, Nelia Aureus, the next day.
Despite said receipt, the PBOC under Assistant Election Director Emmanuel Ignacio proceeded to proclaim Reyes on May 18. This prompted Velasco’s camp to contest the proclamation.
