MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections has approved the petition of actress Lucy Torres-Gomez to substitute for her husband Richard who was disqualified for the congressional race in Ormoc Cty.
The Comelec, however, came out with this decision before one Buenaventura Juntilla had asked the agency’s law department to deny the substitution,
In an interview, Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said the poll body found basis in Gomez’s petition to replace her husband since the latter has already been disqualified. “There are three basis for substitution – disqualification, death and permanent incapacity. Her husband had been disqualified so she is eligible,” he said.
Gomez was also found to have met some ministerial requirements like age, nationality and residency.
Yesterday, Gomez’s actress-friend Gretchen Barreto went to the Comelec to get a copy of the resolution.
Gomez had filed her certificate of candidacy with the Comelec after her husband was taken out from the congressional race for failing to meet residency requirements.