Reposted from ABS-CBN News
SC upholds ruling on Marinduque solon's disqualification
by Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 10/22/2013 3:40 PM | Updated as of 10/22/2013 10:16 PM
MANILA - The Supreme Court (SC) has junked the motion for reconsideration (MR) of Regina Reyes, and affirmed its earlier ruling that upheld her disqualification in the last local elections for the post of Marinduque lone district representative.
Voting 5-4, the high court stood pat on its ruling in June that upheld the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in disqualifying Reyes on the basis of her 'US citizenship,' despite her victory.
The case went controversial since one of the sitting justices of the high tribunal, Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, Jr., is the father of Reyes' rival, Lord Allan Velasco.
Justice Velasco inhibited from the Reyes case.
In deciding in favor of her disqualification with finality, the Comelec brushed aside Reyes' defense that she enjoys dual citizenship.
The case stemmed from a petition filed by Joseph Tan, who questioned Reyes' candidacy before the poll body. The younger Velasco stands to benefit from the high court's ruling.
The Comelec had proclaimed Velasco as the rightful winner in the Marinduque congressional race but the House of Representatives refused to honor his proclamation and recognized Reyes, a member of the ruling Liberal Party (LP).
Voting 5-4, the high court stood pat on its ruling in June that upheld the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in disqualifying Reyes on the basis of her 'US citizenship,' despite her victory.
The case went controversial since one of the sitting justices of the high tribunal, Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, Jr., is the father of Reyes' rival, Lord Allan Velasco.
Justice Velasco inhibited from the Reyes case.
In deciding in favor of her disqualification with finality, the Comelec brushed aside Reyes' defense that she enjoys dual citizenship.
The case stemmed from a petition filed by Joseph Tan, who questioned Reyes' candidacy before the poll body. The younger Velasco stands to benefit from the high court's ruling.
The Comelec had proclaimed Velasco as the rightful winner in the Marinduque congressional race but the House of Representatives refused to honor his proclamation and recognized Reyes, a member of the ruling Liberal Party (LP).
