CA allows Aga’s Congress bid

MANILA, Philippines - There is no more stumbling block in the congressional bid of actor Aga Muhlach in Camarines Sur.

This, after the Court of Appeals (CA) reversed an earlier ruling of the regional trial court (RTC) in San Jose, Camarines Sur delisting Muhlach from the town’s voters’ list.

In a 19-page decision released yesterday, the appellate court’s 12th Division ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to officially reinstate Muhlach’s name in the voters’ list and allow him to proceed with his candidacy as congressman in the fourth district of Camarines Sur.

After holding oral arguments last Jan. 15, the CA granted the petition of Muhlach and his wife, former beauty queen-turned-television host Charlene Gonzales, seeking a reversal of the ruling of the San Jose RTC Branch 30 last December that delisted them from the voters’ list over their supposed non-compliance with the period of residency required of a voter.

The CA ruled that the Muhlachs met the requirements in transferring their registration to the province, so the RTC erred in disenfranchising them.

The Muhlachs were found to have moved to San Jose town on Feb. 17 last year, or 15 months prior to the May 13, 2013 polls. The law requires a candidate to reside in a city or town where he intends to run only six months prior to the elections.

“The right to vote is a most precious political right, as well as a bounden duty of every citizen, enabling and requiring him to participate in the process of government to ensure that it can truly be said to derive its power solely from the consent of its constituents,” read the CA ruling penned by Associate Justice Vicente Veloso.

Earlier, the CA issued a 60-day temporary restraining order enjoining the implementation of the RTC order, thus allowing Muhlach to temporarily start his campaign.

Muhlach, who is running under the ruling Liberal Party, was represented by veteran poll lawyer Romulo Macalintal in this case.