Comelec voids proclamation of Marinduque lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday invalidated the proclamation of lawyer Regina Ongsiako Reyes as the winning congresswoman of Marinduque in the May 13 polls.

“The May 18 proclamation of the respondent, Regina Ongsiako Reyes, is declared null and void and without any legal force and effect,” the Comelec said in a 19-page resolution.

Voting 5-2, the Comelec junked the motion for reconsideration filed by Reyes when its First Division cancelled her certificate of candidacy after finding that she is an American citizen and lacked the one-year residency requirement in the Philippines.

The Comelec ordered the Provincial Board of Canvassers of Marinduque to proclaim petitioner Lord Allan Jay Velasco as the representative of the province’s lone district.

The poll body ruled that the votes obtained by Reyes shall be considered as “stray” votes. Velasco got 48,396 votes in the congressional race.

Those who voted for Reyes’ ouster were Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes and Commissioners Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph, Grace Padaca, and Luie Guia. Opposing the ruling were Commissioners Christian Lim and Al Parreno.