House to wait for final SC ruling on Reyes case

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives will wait for the final ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) on the disqualification case filed against Marinduque Rep. Regina Ongsiako-Reyes, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said on Thursday.

Belmonte issued the statement after the SC asked the House leadership to remove Reyes and install her rival Lord Allan Velasco.

Voting 8-16, the SC upheld Reyes’ disqualification over her citizenship. The high tribunal said she failed to present evidence to support her claim that she has not yet undergone naturalization although she became a US citizen when she married an American.

“Our lawyers are studying (the SC directive) together with documents from the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET),” Belmonte said.

The Office of the Solicitor General is expected to appeal the SC ruling. 

Reyes’ lawyer, Harry Roque, said the HRET has the sole jurisdiction to decide election protests involving House members.