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| Lord Allan Velasco |
SC decides on Marinduque poll issue
Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Jay Velasco yesterday called on Congress to respect the Supreme Court (SC) decision, which affirmed with finality the disqualification of Liberal Party (LP) candidate Regina Ongsiako-Reyes in the May 2013 congressional race in Marinduque.
Velasco, a son of SC Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, also called on Reyes to vacate the congressional seat for Marinduque in compliance with the June 25, 2013 Resolution of the SC, upholding the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify his political rival for her alleged failure to renounce her American citizenship as required from candidates with dual citizenships.
“Reyes has to vacate the seat of representative of Marinduque, for she has no legal basis to continue performing the functions of a Marinduque Congresswoman. She is violating Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code pertaining to the crime of usurpation of authority and official functions,” Reyes said.
“In the light of the fact that the proclamation of Ms. Reyes is without any force and effect, she therefore does not have any legal basis and right to continue performing acts in connection with the position of representative for the lone district of Marinduque,” he added.
The SC, in its en banc meeting last December 3, denied the second motion for reconsideration filed by Reyes. Such denial, in effect, affirmed with finality the Comelec’s decision to disqualify Reyes from participating in the last May elections. The older Velasco has since inhibited himself from the case.
In junking Reyes’ motion for reconsideration, the High Court ruled that Comelec did not exercise grave abuse of discretion when it disqualified Reyes for being an American citizen. Read more on Manila Bulletin
