Loren Legarda’s voter registration transfer to Antique OK’d

MANILA, Philippines — The Election Registration Board (ERB) of Pandan town in Antique has approved the transfer of Sen. Loren Legarda’s voter registration in Barangay Mag-aba.

Legarda is running for congresswoman of Antique’s lone district in next year’s elections.

In a ruling issued on Oct. 29, the ERB also declared the opposition filed against the transfer of Legarda’s registration as “baseless and premature.”

The senator has been a resident of Barangay Mag-aba in Pandan, Antique since Jan. 1 based on a certification issued by the barangay council.

Under Section 9 of Republic Act 8189 or the Voter Registration Act,  citizens who have resided in the place where they propose to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the election may register as a voter.

“I humbly and warmly welcome the favorable decision of the ERB of Pandan, Antique. Even with the opposition filed against my transfer of voter registration, I have been optimistic that I will win the case because I am fully compliant with the law,” Legarda said in a statement.

“I share this victory with my kasimanwas. I thank all those who believe in me and have been with me in this journey to help our beautiful and resource-rich province become progressive,” she added.

Ex-Pasig mayor can’t run in Camarines Sur

Meanwhile, the ERB of Libmanan, Camarines Sur disqualified former Pasig City mayor Ma. Belen Andaya-Eusebio from running for congresswoman of the second district of Camarines Sur.

In a 15-page resolution, the ERB said Eusebio’s application to transfer her voter’s registration record to Libmanan was disapproved for “not having fully satisfied the requirements of residency as mandated by law.”

Eusebio, sister of of House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., is running against Rep. LRay Villafuerte.

The Comelec said Eusebio failed to prove her residence or physical presence as well as her intention to remain in Libmanan and abandon her old residence in Pasig, where her husband Roberto is the incumbent mayor.

Wilma Carios and Felicisimo Caudilla Jr., who opposed Eusebio’s application for transfer of registration, presented witnesses who attested that they had never seen her in her supposed residence in Barangay Puro Batia. The house was registered under a certain Hadjii Bermudes Esber. 

Esber hosted a party at the house last June in celebration of the town fiesta, witnesses said.

Only the chairman of Barangay Puro Batia, Jose Victor Dilanco, testified that he saw Eusebio in the village. 

The ERB also noted that nobody received the notices of the ERB, which Emilio Joven, Comelec-Libmanan election assistant, delivered at Eusebio’s supposed house in Libmanan.  – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Non Alquitran