Pasig congressman gets seat — with 5 months left in his term

Better late than never.

With only two weeks to go before the 12th Congress adjourns for the election break on Feb. 6, the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) promulgated yesterday a decision declaring Noel Cariño as the duly elected congressman for the lone district of Pasig City.

The HRET, in its decision, also annulled the proclamation of Pasig City Rep. Henry Lanot. The tribunal is composed of three Supreme Court justices and six members of the House of Representatives.

The HRET found merit in the electoral protest filed by Cariño on May 29, 2001 after the revision and appreciation of ballots showed that Cariño won over Lanot by a margin of 1,369 votes.

In a statement, Cariño expressed relief and appreciation for the HRET’s decision, adding that after almost three years of waiting, "the true voice of the people of Pasig has finally been heard, despite the attempts of Lanot to subvert the same by employing frivolous legal tactics and maneuvers just so he can remain in a position he does not deserve to occupy."

Cariño also asked Lanot to accept the decision "as a gentleman."

"I hope Lanot accepts and respects the decision of the HRET as valid, legitimate and correct and not continue his attempt to challenge it by using legal tactics and technicalities inasmuch as what he is in reality mocking and violating is the real voice and mandate of the people of Pasig. Enough is enough," he said.

An advocate of affordable and decent mass housing, Cariño said he will buckle down to work as soon as he is sworn into office.

"I owe my victory to the people of Pasig, and I would not fail them in Congress even if my term of office has been drastically reduced," he said.