Saturday, January 30, 2016

For Cardinal Vidal, IEC a journey of faith

Ricardo Vidal was 6 years old when he and other children received their first Communion the first time the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) was held in the country in 1937.

Vidal later entered priesthood and rose to become a cardinal and head of the Cebu Archdiocese, the second biggest archdiocese in the country next to Manila.

Seventy-nine years later, the country is again host of the IEC, this time in Cebu City.

Now Cebu archbishop emeritus, Vidal would be at the other end of the Communion line. He would administer the sacrament to at least 5,000 children during Mass at the Cebu City Sports Center on Saturday.

Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal leads a Catholic Church ritual
marking the Jubilee Year in the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Vidal, the most senior cardinal in the country, said he looked forward to the event with a mix of excitement and nostalgia.

“I would see a replica of what I experienced in 1937,” he said.

Vidal recalled his thoughts as he received his first Communion at the 1937 IEC held at Rizal Park in Manila.

It was Vidal’s first time to set foot in Manila and the archbishop, a native of Mogpog, Marinduque province, remembered being amazed at the roads.

“In our town (Mogpog), only the sidewalk of well-to-do families was concreted and all of a sudden, I found all the roads in Manila were all covered with concrete. Then I said ‘all the people here must be rich,’” he said.

Vidal said it was his aunt, head catechist in their parish in Marinduque, who prepared him for the first Communion.

He also recalled seeing a cardinal for the first time.

“He was all dressed in red with a very long cape. I used to hold the cape of a reyna (queen) in our hometown fiesta. So my impression at that time was, ‘He was not only a priest dressed in red. He also looked like a reyna,’” the cardinal said, laughing.

Vidal said every first Communion is special since it’s the act of letting Jesus in your life for the first time.

“As Catholics, we believe that Christ is really present in the Eucharist—his body, blood, soul and divinity,” Vidal said.

One of those who would receive Communion from Vidal on Saturday, Marlon Lariosa, 11, said he was looking forward to the event.

A street urchin, Lariosa was recently introduced to the basic teachings of the Catholic Church by catechists.

He said he considered getting Communion an act of penance.

He said he used to throw stones at cars along the highway because he didn’t have any sense of what was right or wrong.

But learning about Christ changed his life.

Lariosa, of Barangay Sambag 2 in Cebu City, said he believed that his sins would be forgiven after receiving Communion.

Fr. Carmelo Diola said at least 500 street children, including Lariosa, would be among the 5,000 first communicants. The rest are pupils from different schools in Cebu.

Diola, IEC committee chair on solidarity and communion, said most of the street children are from Cebu City. A few are from the dioceses of Tacloban City in Leyte province, Tagbilaran City in Bohol province, Digos City in Davao del Sur province and Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental province.

Read full story on Inquirer

Congressman and Mrs. Lord Allan Velasco with Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.


Justice delayed, and justice almost denied to Marinduque solon

WHAT MATTERS MOST 
By Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez (The Freeman) | 

With barely less than five months to perform his official functions in the House of Representatives, my former student, Lord Allan Velasco, whom I taught law courses in UST in the nineties, has finally been vindicated by the Supreme Court as the rightful and properly elected congressman of the lone district of Marinduque. That is what I always told him when I mentored him in the college of law, that the wheels of justice in this country grinds exceedingly slow, but it grinds exceedingly well. He should know that by heart. His father, Justice Presbitero Velasco, is the senior associate justice of the Supreme Court, next only to the Chief Justice and to the most senior associate, Antonio Carpio. At the end of the day, they cannot put a good man down. Lord Allan is a very good man.

Marinduque Congressman Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco
He was the incumbent solon representing that district. He was challenged in the 2013 elections by a US citizen, who must have known very well that she was not a Filipino citizen, thus unqualified. But she is a scion of the most influential and most politically-entrenched family in that province. The House Electoral Tribunal whose members were mostly belonging to the party of Lord Allan's opponent allegedly used all forms of maneuvers, dilatory tactics, and technical and legalistic gobbledygook just to prevent Allan from being allowed to claim his seat. Even a freshman pre-law student knows that an unqualified candidate cannot participate much less win in an election. All the votes in her favor were stray votes. Thus, the only qualified bet was Lord Allan Velasco.

Why is the Philippine justice system too inefficient, too inept, and too dilatory? If they can do this to a son of a Supreme Court justice, they can very well inflict heavier damage to the least, the lost, the last, the powerless, and the uninfluential. In as press statement, the Highest court of the land, voting 8:1 with six abstentions, ordered the House of the Representatives to administer the oath of office of Congressman Lord Allan Velasco and to register his name in the roll of members of the Lower Chamber. The name of Regina Ongsiako-Reyes, his opponent, shall then be deleted. Lord Allan will join his mother, a party list congresswoman herself.

The High Court "found that petitioner Velasco was entitled to the writ of mandamus because the finality of the court's much earlier ruling and the COMELEC's resolutions left no issue as to who is the rightful representative of the lone district of the province. For this reason, the administration of the oath to Velasco by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the registration of his name in the rolls of the House by the Secretary General were ministerial duties compellable by mandamus." This is the only legal, proper and just and reasonable step to take. This is too delayed already, and the de facto congresswoman had already used more than eighty per cent of the term of this set of members of the House.

The Justices who voted in favor of the ruling were Chief Justice Ma Lourdes Sereno, Associate Justices Antonio Carpio, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Lucas Bersamin, Martin Villarama Jr, Jose Perez, Bienvenido Reyes and Marvic Leonen. The lone dissenter was Justice Arturo D Brion. Those who inhibited were Justices Presbitero Velasco, the father of Lord Allan, Diosdado Peralta, Mariano del Castillo, Jose Mendoza, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, and Francis Jardeleza.The House earlier recognized Velasco's opponent despite the earlier ruling of the Supreme Court disqualifying her for not being a natural-born citizen (Senator Grace Poe, take note). Now the House must obey the rule of law. The Freeman (Cebu)

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

HRET, SC uphold rulings to remove Reyes as Marinduque rep

But House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr is still 'studying' whether to swear in Lord Allan Velasco to replace his (Belmonte's) party mate Regina Ongsiako Reyes


by Patty Pasion, Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) on Wednesday, January 27, upheld its earlier ruling that effectively disqualifies Marinduque Representative Regina Ongsiako Reyes.

The HRET decision came a day after the Supreme Court (SC) also maintained its earlier ruling that “denied with finality” the motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives, through its Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), in favor of Reyes.

This was confirmed to Rappler by at least two members of the HRET.

Marinduque Congressman Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco

Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco had protested Reyes' assumption to office as congresswoman. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) had cancelled Reyes’s certificate of candidacy on the grounds that she was a naturalized American citizen during the 2013 elections.

Last December 14, the HRET voted 4-3 that the protest was no longer under its jurisdiction. It in turn acknowledged the High Court's decision that Reyes is considered disqualified from the 2013 polls.

Reyes' camp had contended that the HRET's ruling was invalid. They said that Gabriela RepresentativeLuzviminda Ilagan, who voted in favor of Velasco, was no longer a lawmaker when the decision was rendered.

Reyes’ lawyer Harry Roque claimed that Ilagan is considered resigned from her post as a member of the 16th Congress after she filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) to run as Davao City councilor last October 12. (READ: After SC ruling, will the House swear in Velasco as Marinduque rep?)

Ilagan defended that the rule only is only applicable to party-list representatives shifting political affiliation or sectoral representation. It didn't apply to her because she is seeking a local government post in 2016, and she can finish her term in the 16th Congress.

“We hope this decision clears all doubt on the validity of the decision made last December 14 as well as any misconception on the legitimacy of the vote rendered by Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan on the aforementioned petition against Ongsiako-Reyes,” said Gabriela lawyer Minerva Lopez.

On Wednesday, Iloilo City Representative Jerry Trenas, another HRET member, confirmed that the tribunal denied Reyes's motion to annul HRET's December 14 decision.

SC final ruling: Install Velasco

On January 12, the SC voted 8-1-6 to recognize Velasco as the rightful winner of the 2013 congressional election.

The SC ordered Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr and the OSG to allow Velasco to take his oath and be part of the roster of the elected House members.

The ruling also stressed that Reyes’s oath as Marinduque representative was invalid because she had no valid certificate of candidacy when she was sworn into office.

"Comelec in SPC No. 13-010 cancelled respondent Reyes' proclamation and, in turn, proclaimed Velasco as the duly elected member of the House of Representatives,” said the decision released January 12.

On Tuesday, January 26, the High Court denied with finality Reyes' motion for reconsideration of its January 12 ruling.

Still under study

Despite the clear HRET and SC rulings in favor of Velasco, Speaker Belmonte said the House leadership is still mulling whether to swear in Velasco.

“We are still studying it. But we will definitely decide before we adjourn,” Feliciano told Rappler in a text message.

Belmonte is the party mate of Reyes. They both belong to the ruling Liberal Party.

The Speaker had twice defied rulings to install Velasco. – Rappler.com

SC: Decision unseating Regina O. Reyes final

Posted by ABS-CBN News at 01/26/16 10:17 PM

MANILA - The Supreme Court's (SC) decision unseating Marinduque Rep. Regina Ongsiako Reyes as congressional representative is now final and executory.

This, after the high court, in its en banc session on Tuesday, dismissed the motion of the House of Representatives, through Speaker Sonny Belmonte, to reconsider its decision removing Reyes from Congress and ordering that Lord Allan Jay Velasco be administered his oath as representative of the lone district of Marinduque.



The SC earlier ordered Belmonte to administer Velasco's oath and register him in the Roll of Members of the House of Representatives.

The SC granted Velasco's petition for mandamus, which sought to compel the House of Representatives to comply with the high court's final ruling upholding the disqualification of Reyes on grounds that she is an American citizen.

Cong. Lord Allan Q. Velasco

Velasco, son of SC Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, Jr., who inhibited from his son's case, was eventually proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). However, the House of Representatives refused to honor Velasco's proclamation.

Reyes is a member of the Liberal Party (LP).

CANCELLATION OF COCs

Meanwhile, the high court affirmed the decision of the Comelec to cancel the certificates of candidacy (COCs) of the following, saying the poll body did not commit grave abuse of discretion:

Camilo Sabio, who filed COC for president;
Vetallano Acosta, who filed COC for president; and Gion Villamore Gounet, who filed COC for senator.

File photo of Cong. Velasco when he was proclaimed winner of the
congressional seat in the lone district of Marinduque by Comelec in July 2013


Tuesday, January 26, 2016

SC decision installing Rep. Velasco is immediately executory — former Chief Justice tells Belmonte

January 25, 2016

Former Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban said yesterday the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) on the case of Rep. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco “should be followed immediately by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. because by its terms it is ‘immediately executory.’”

Panganiban, who was chief justice from 2005 to 2007, said “the SC precisely took into account the few remaining months of the term of the position involved which is member of the House of Representatives.”

Belmonte - Velasco

“In other words, time is of the essence,” he pointed out.

He joined two legal luminaries who said that the House leadership, particularly Belmonte, is mandated to implement the swearing in of Velasco and the inclusion of his name in the Roll of Members.

In an earlier interview, former Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) president Vicente Joyas and former University of the East law dean Amado Valdez had said that House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. should honor and implement the SC ruling granting Velasco’s plea for mandamus.

Voting 8-1 in a decision released last January 12, the SC ruled that Belmonte and House secretary general Marilyn Barua-Yap “are legally duty-bound to recognize Velasco as the duly elected Member of the House of Representatives for the Lone District of Marinduque in view of the ruling rendered by this Court and the Comelec’s (Commission on Elections) compliance with the said ruling, now both final and executory.”

As of this writing, Regina Ongsiako Reyes who had been disqualified as a candidate in a final ruling by the Comelec and which ruling had been upheld by the SC in a final decision, is still listed in No. 225 as the member of House of Representatives representing the lone district of Marinduque.

Former SC Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban

 MANDATORY

“Precisely, too, the SC wanted the judgment to be immediately executory which partakes the nature of a mandatory injunction which is also immediately executory,” Panganiban said.

“While the fallo of the decision may not be final yet, the mandatory injunction contained in the decision is immediately executory even prior to the finality of the decision. In the same manner, a preliminary injunction is immediately executory even without a final judgment yet,” he stressed.

Panganiban noted that the case filed by Velasco before the SC was for mandamus against Belmonte and Barua-Yap. “Thus, when the SC ruled in favor of Velasco with the issuance of a mandatory injunction, the House leadership has no choice but to implement the ruling.”

“On the reverse, a temporary restraining order or a status quo ante order is immediately executory so as not to render the case moot and academic,” he added.

The final decision of the SC is part of the law of the land under Article 8 of the Civil Code.

Thus, several lawyers who requested anonymity, said that Speaker Belmonte “must uphold the Rule of Law in the country.”

“The House Speaker and other House leaders are not above the law and they are bound to implement the same,” they said.

ANARCHY

“If the House of Representatives will not comply with the SC decision, the losing parties in civil cases and convicts in criminal cases can also ask that the SC’s decisions should not be executed against them and that would be the start of anarchy and breakdown of peace and order,” they added.

The SC’s January 12 ruling stated that the administration of the oath and the registration of Velasco as the duly-elected congressman for Marinduque “are no longer a matter of discretion or judgment” on the part of House Speaker Belmonte.

The dispositive portion of the decision stated:

“WHEREFORE, the Petition for Mandamus is GRANTED. Public respondent Hon. Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr., Speaker, House of Representatives, shall administer the oath of office of petitioner Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco as the duly-elected Representative of the Lone District of the Province of Marinduque. And public respondent Hon. Marilyn B. Barua-Yap, Secretary General, House of Representatives, shall register the name of petitioner Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco in the Roll of Members of the House of Representatives after he has taken his oath of office. This Decision shall be IMMEDIATELY EXECUTORY.”

Thus, the SC said “it is well past the time for everyone concerned to accept what has been adjudicated and take judicial notice of the fact that Regina Ongsiako Reyes’ ineligibility to run for and be elected to the subject position had already been long affirmed by this Court.”


“Any ruling deviating from such established ruling will be contrary to the Rule of Law and should not be countenanced,” the SC warned. - Rey G. Panaligan, Manila Bulletin

Monday, January 25, 2016

Speaker urged to enforce SC ruling installing Velasco as Marinduque lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives should enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling installing Lord Allan Jay Velasco, the runnerup in the 2013 congressional race in Marinduque as the legitimate lawmaker for the province, two legal experts said.

In an interview with reporters, former Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Vicente Joyas and former University of the East law dean Amado Valdez said House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. should honor and implement the high court’s January 12 decision granting Velasco’s plea for mandamus.



“Since the Supreme Court’s ruling is final, Velasco can just take his oath and assume the position,” Valdez, who is also chair emeritus of the Philippine Association of Law Schools, said.

Joyas for his part, warned that disobedience could lead to a contempt case, adding parties that refused to implement an order of the court could be penalized by fine or imprisonment.

“A contempt proceeding is always a remedy available to an aggrieved party in cases of disobedience to a lawful order of the court,” Joyas said.

“Congress must follow the decision” the lawyer added, saying that “the officers of the House of Representatives are vested by law to implement the order of the Supreme Court.”

The court, voting 8-1, with 6 abstentions, ruled that the administration of the oath and the registration of Velasco as the duly elected congressman for Marinduque “are no longer a matter of discretion or judgment” on the part of Belmonte and the House secretary-general Marilyn Barua-Yap.

The high tribunal ruled with finality in October 2013 that sitting Marinduque Rep. Regina Ongsiako-Reyes was disqualified from being elected to Congress. The court said the Commission on Elections correctly found out that Reyes failed to prove that she was a Filipino citizen when she filed her certificate of candidacy and that she failed to meet the one-year residency requirement for congressional candidates.

In deciding on Velasco’s mandamus petition, the court said Belmonte and Barua-Yap were “legally duty-bound” to recognize Velasco as the duly elected Marinduque congressman as the court’s October 2013 was already final and executory.

“It is well past the time for everyone concerned to accept what has been adjudicated and take judicial notice of the fact that Reyes’ ineligibility to run for and be elected to the subject position had already been long affirmed by this court. Any ruling deviating from such established ruling will be contrary to the Rule of Law and should not be countenanced,” the court said.

The court junked Reyes’ argument that only the House of Representative Electoral Tribunal could remove her from office, adding that since her CoC was cancelled, her proclamation as winner was void and therefore she had no legal personality to be recognized lawmaker in the first place. - INQUIRER

2 legal experts say swearing in of Velasco as solon is in order

The House of Representatives is mandated to enforce the Supreme Court’s (SC) order to swear in Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco and include his name in its Roll of Members representing the lone district of Marinduque, two prominent lawyers said yesterday.

In an interview, former Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) president, Vicente Joyas, and former University of the East (UE) Law dean, Amado Valdez, said House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. should honor and implement the SC ruling granting Velasco’s plea for mandamus.

Congressman Lord Allan Q. Velasco

Voting 8-1 in a decision handed down last January 12, the SC ruled that the administration of the oath and the registration of Velasco as the duly-elected congressman of Marinduque “are no longer a matter of discretion or judgment” on the part of the House Speaker.

The SC said its decision is “immediately executory.” It granted Velasco’s petition for mandamus against Belmonte, House Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap, and Reginal Ongsiako Reyes, his rival who had been disqualified as a congressional candidate by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the 2013 election.

Belmonte and Barua-Yap “are legally duty-bound to recognize Velasco as the duly elected Member of the House of Representatives for the  Lone District of Marinduque in view of the ruling rendered by this Court and the Comelec’s compliance with the said ruling, now both final and executory,” the SC said.

The dispositive portion of the SC decision written by Justice Teresita J. Leonardo de Castro stated:

“WHEREFORE, the Petition for Mandamus is GRANTED. Public respondent Hon. Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr., Speaker, House of Representatives, shall administer the oath of office of petitioner Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco as the duly-elected Representative of the Lone District of the Province of Marinduque. And public respondent Hon. Marilyn B. Barua-Yap, Secretary General, House of Representatives, shall register the name of petitioner Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco in the Roll of Members of the House of Representatives after he has taken his oath of office. This Decision shall be IMMEDIATELY EXECUTORY.”

Published reports quoted Belmonte as saying that they were “still studying” the SC decision, which he said, they received last January 18.

As of press time, a check with the website of the House of Representatives showed that Reyes is still listed as Lower House’s member for the lone district of Marinduque.

“Since the SC ruling is final, Velasco can just take his oath and assume the position,” said Valdez, who is also chairman emeritus of the Association of Philippine Law Schools (APLS).

“Congress must follow the decision” said Joyas for his part, stressing that “the officers of the House of Representatives are vested by law to implement the order of the Supreme Court.”

Other lawyers who requested anonymity said that even if a motion for reconsideration is filed, the House of Representatives should implement the executory decision of the SC.

“The implementation of the executory decision of the SC is a ministerial duty on part of the officials of the House of Representatives. There should be discretion,” they said.

Joyas warned Belmonte and other officers of the Lower House that contempt proceedings could be pursued against them if they would insist on defying the SC order.

“A contempt proceeding is always a remedy available to an aggrieved party in cases of disobedience to a lawful order of the court,” Joyas stressed.

He pointed out that Belmonte and the others could be sanctioned to pay a fine or be imprisoned, or both, if proven they have refused to implement the SC order.

Ruling favorably on Velasco’s petition, the SC said that “there is no longer any issue as to who is the rightful representative of the lone district of Marinduque” with the finality of its decision which affirmed the ruling of the Comelec that “correctly cancelled Reyes’ certificate of candidacy (COC) for member of the House of Representatives on the ground that she was ineligible for the subject position due to her failure to prove her Filipino citizenship and the requisite one-year residency in the province of Marinduque.”

It pointed out that “by virtue of Comelec en banc resolution dated May 14, 2013 in SPA No. 13-053; certificate of finality dated June 5, 2013 in SPA No. 13-053; Comelec en banc resolution dated June 19, 2013 in SPC N. 13-010; Comelec en banc resolution dated July 10, 2013 in SPA No. 13-053; and Velasco’s certificate of proclamation dated July 16, 2013, Velasco is the rightful representative of the lone district of the province of Marinduque; hence, entitled to a writ of Mandamus,” the SC ruled.

Thus, the SC said “it is well past the time for everyone concerned to accept what has been adjudicated and take judicial notice of the fact that Regina Ongsiako Reyes’ ineligibility to run for and be elected to the subject position had already been long affirmed by this Court.”

“Any ruling deviating from such established ruling will be contrary to the Rule of Law and should not be countenanced,” the SC warned.

It said that at the time of Reyes’ proclamation after the May 13, 2013 election, her COC had already been cancelled by the Comelec in its final resolution dated May 14, 2013.

The Comelec ruling cancelling Reyes’ COC had been upheld by the SC in resolutions dated June 25, 2013 and Oct. 22, 2013 and the resolutions had become final and executory, it said.

“As a consequence… the Comelec in SPC No. 13-010 cancelled respondent Reyes’ proclamation and, in turn, proclaimed Velasco as the duly elected member of the House of Representatives in representation of the lone district of the province of Marinduque. The said proclamation has not been challenged or questioned by Reyes in any proceeding,” it added.

Thus, when Reyes took her oath of office before Speaker Belmonte in open session, she had no valid COC nor a valid proclamation, the SC said.

“In view of the foregoing, Reyes has absolutely no legal basis to serve as member of the House of Representatives for the lone district of the province of Marinduque, and therefore, she has no legal personality to be recognized as a party-respondent at the quo warranto proceeding before the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal,” the SC ruled. - Manila Bulletin 

House urged to recognize Velasco as Marinduque solon

Marinduque Congressman Lord Allan Q. Velasco

THE House of Representatives is mandated to enforce the Supreme Court order to swear in Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco and include his name in its Roll of Members representing the lone district of Marinduque, according to two prominent lawyers.

In an interview, former Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) president Vicente Joyas and former University of the East law dean Amado Valdez said House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. should honor and implement the SC ruling granting Velasco’s plea for mandamus.
    
Voting 8-1 in a decision handed down last January 12, the SC ruled that the administration of the oath and the registration of  Velasco as the duly-elected congressman for  Marinduque “are no longer a matter of discretion or judgment” on the part of House Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr.
    
The SC said its decision is “immediately executory.” It granted Velasco’s petition for mandamus against Belmonte, House Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap, and Reginal Ongsiako Reyes, his rival who had been disqualified as a congressional candidate by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the 2013 election.
    
Belmonte and Barua-Yap “are legally duty-bound to recognize Velasco as the duly elected Member of the House of Representatives for the Lone District of Marinduque in view of the ruling rendered by this Court and the Comelec’s compliance with the said ruling, now both final and executory,” the SC said.
    
Former Integrated Bar of the Philippines national president,
Vicente Joyas

The dispositive portion of the SC decision written by Justice Teresita J. Leonardo de Castro stated:

“Wherefore, the Petition for Mandamus is GRANTED. Public respondent Hon. Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr., Speaker, House of Representatives, shall administer the oath of office of petitioner Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco as the duly-elected Representative of the Lone District of the Province of Marinduque. And public respondent Hon. Marilyn B. Barua-Yap, Secretary General, House of Representatives, shall register the name of petitioner Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco in the Roll of Members of the House of Representatives after he has taken his oath of office. This Decision shall be IMMEDIATELY EXECUTORY.”
 
Speaker  of the House, Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.

Published reports quoted Belmonte as saying that they were “still studying” the SC decision, which he said, they received last January 18.
    
The website of the House of Representatives also showed that Reyes is still listed as Lower House’s member for the lone district of Marinduque.
    
“Since the SC ruling is final, Velasco can just take his oath and assume the position,” said Valdez, also chairman emeritus of the Association of Philippine Law Schools (APLS).
    
“Congress must follow the decision. The officers of the House of Representatives are vested by law to implement the order of the Supreme Court,” Joyas said.

University of the East Law Dean, Amado D. Valdez

 Other lawyers who requested anonymity said even if a motion for reconsideration is filed, the House of Representatives should implement the executory decision of the SC.
    
“The implementation of the executory decision of the SC is a ministerial duty on part of the officials of the House of Representatives.  There should be discretion,” they said.
    
Joyas warned Belmonte and other officers of the Lower House that contempt proceedings could be pursued against them if they would insist on defying the SC order. - Hector Lawas, Journal

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Speaker Belmonte under attack by netizens on Marinduque issue

The Philippine Daily Inquirer today ran a story, 'Reyes stays in House for now - Belmonte' that has caused netizens to respond with attacks on the speaker. Read


Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.


One netizen (Rainier Noriega) wrote:  there was no velasco petitions dismissed last month. the sc final decision was in fact recognized by hret. it is reports like this that get this case purposely muddled all the time. the writer should do his homework. not rely on gossip, but report the truth.

Another one (FireEngine) stated: "It's possible pala to very publicly disregard a ruling from the Supreme Court with IMPUNITY..."

From mountaineer 77: "Speaker Belmonte try mo bumisita dito sa amin sa Marinduque bago ka magdecide para malaman mo kung paano pinahihirapan ng mga Reyes ang probinsya namin. Dekada na sa pwesto mahirap pa din."

The rest of the comments are found below:
Hiram Tiburcio
as an ordinary law abiding citizen i believe that the ruling of the SC would not be a piece of meat for the jackals and hyenas of the house of representatives
Like · Reply · 7 hrs
Herminio Velarde · 
This move shows that the Liberal Party members thinks and acts like their president, who does not follow the SC rulings.DAANG MATUWAD.
Like · Reply · 1 hr
Rainier J Noriega · 
the author of this article should check his facts. there was no velasco petitions dismissed last month. the sc final decision was in fact recognized by hret. it is reports like this that get this case purposely muddled all the time. the writer should do his homework. not rely on gossip, but report the truth.
Like · Reply · 1 hr



  • Mr. Belmonte, daig mo pa ang presidente ng pilipinas kung mag decision ah. hindi ka susunod sa supreme court? alzheimer's attack? FOLLOW THE LAW, BELMONTE. ipinapakita mo pa sa madla kung paano mag react pag na DQ si Grace Poe? ikaw ang unang unang dapat magpakita ng pagsunod sa batas. hunghang - di ko alam ibig sabihin nyan pero parang bagay sayo. HUNGHANG.



      • Avatar



        “'She (Reyes) will stay there until I do something. I will act on this one way or another before we go on campaign break on Feb. 9,' Belmonte told reporters...."
        Shouldn't Belmonte be arrested for contempt? It's possible pala to very publicly disregard a ruling from the Supreme Court with IMPUNITY, as demonstrated by our Ladlad Party House Speaker.
        This isn't helping Ladlad's credibility with people, now that there are important election cases pending with the Supreme Court. Anyway, such is "Daang Matuwid." LOL!
        Stupid government.



          • Avatar



            NANG IINIS LANG SI BELMONTE SA SC
            HE KNOWS SC IS SUPREME.
            HES JUST TRYING TO PROJECT
            NA ANG MGA CONGRESSMAN
            MAY NATITIRA PANG POWER AT CREDIBILIDAD
            PWE!



            • Avatar



              belmonte is building his dynasty in quezon city but all these will come crashing down once he kicks the bucket. he's 79 years old and should come to terms and do good for the people and for his soul.



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                WHO IS THE
                THE FINAL ARBITER?



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                    Similarly, any decision of the SET overrides any SC decision. This is a dangerous game that this Blemonte is playing.



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                        Speaker Belmonte try mo bumisita dito sa amin sa Marinduque bago ka magdecide para malaman mo kung paano pinahihirapan ng mga Reyes ang probinsya namin. Dekada na sa pwesto mahirap pa din. Ewan ko lang kung makabalik ka ng Manila na hindi iinit ang bumbunan mo sa hirap ng byahe. Tapos saka ka magdecide.



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                            si reyes ay kamag-anak ni edmundo reyes na nagpayaman noong sya ang ulo ng immigration?



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                                I AGREE the Marinduquenians are not getting their right share of the blessings of what a province should get. I hired an office staff from Marinduque in August last year and she said up to now infrastructures in the country are almost nil. The ONLY bank near their is Landbank and it seems no one is caring for this province. Marinduquenians have the right to progress and people there should STAND UP and BE HEARD!



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                                    Marinduque Mining used to sustain the entire province now its gone and the BOAC river is an environmental calamity. CARP did not work in Marinduque either so you are left with subsistence farming and fishing, a few resort areas and a lot of residents who have moved to Manila.
                                    The Reyes dynasty of Sta Cruz, Marinduque, and Dasmarinas Village, Makati have been in power since the time of Marcos. Time for change is long overdue.



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                                    Abolish na yang SC, ala naman palang gustong sumunod.



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                                      Belmonte seem to not know the meaning of the word "supreme" in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the final arbiter of all legal issues in the Philippines and Reyes's situation is of a legal issue.