American proclaimed in Marinduque

Repost from Manila Standard Today

By Rey E. Requejo | Posted on May. 20, 2013 at 12:03am | 2,248 views

A board of canvassers in Marinduque has proclaimed as winner in a congressional elections a candidate who was declared by the Commission on Election as an American citizen, a re-electionist lawmaker said on Sunday.

Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco said the provincial board of canvassers has proclaimed his rival, Regina Reyes, as elected representative despite a ruling by the COMELEC en banc declaring her a US citizen and “ineligible for the position of representative.

“The declaration was a brazen defiance and blatant disregard of the power and authority of the COMELEC en banc,” Velasco said, citing its memorandum on March 27 declaring her a US citizen.

The three-member provincial board proclaimed Reyes as elected one day after the May 13 mid-term elections. Velasco questioned Reyes’ declaration as “irregular, illegal and prematures.”

On the same day, the COMELEC en back released its decision denying with finality Reyes’  motion for reconsideration. Velasco, son of Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbetro Velasco is running for re-election.

Velasco said the board of canvassers should have waited for the Supreme Court to take action on the issue after the decision was challenged in court because Reyes was not qualified for the position.

He said he will take legal actions against the “highly anomalous and premature proclamation of Reyes because the canvassers should have waited for the Supreme Court to act on the issue.

The people of Marinduque were surprised at the proclamation of Reyes because the canvassers were under the supervision of the COMELEC and it should have followed its orders.

“They (people of Marinduque) are aghast at the thought that a US citizen will not represent them in the House or Representatives, Velasco said. The constitution says that only a natural born Filipino citizen is qualified to become a congressman,” Velasco said.