Reyes still 1-UTAK's top nominee

MANILA, Philippines -  Former Energy secretary Angelo Reyes will remain the top nominee of party-list organization 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said Reyes remains as the official nominee of 1-UTAK as far as the poll body is concerned, unless the group’s petition to withdraw his nomination is approved.

Larrazabal said the Comelec’s Law Department has to study the petition that the group filed last Friday,  after which the law department will submit its recommendation to the Comelec convening in a full session.

“Once the en banc approves the replacement of the nominee of the organization that’s the time we can issue a certificate of proclamation,” Larrazabal said.

The party list group 1-UTAK filed a petition before the Comelec seeking to withdraw their nomination of Reyes as the first choice to represent the sector in the House of Representatives.

The group named the third nominee, Homero Mercado, as their final choice.1-Utak has won one seat in the House by bagging two percent of the 1.2 million votes cast for party-list during the May 10 polls.

But after disqualification cases were filed against Reyes questioning his qualifications to represent the transport sector, the former Energy chief was not able to assume his seat.

Larrazabal said Mercado could not yet assume the post since the petition remains pending.

“He can go there (to the opening session of Congress on Monday) as guest but not as a congressman because his substitution has not yet been approved by the Comelec,” Larrazabal said.