Comelec unseats Regina Ongsiako Reyes

Comelec unseats Marinduque solon

Reposted from MALAYA.com.ph

MARINDUQUE Rep. Regina Ongsiako Reyes was unseated by the Commission on Elections as she was found to be an American citizen.

The commission en banc voting 5-2 said Reyes also lacked the one-year residency requirement to be a qualified congressional candidate.

Comelec ordered the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) of Marinduque to proclaim Lord Allan Jay Velasco.

Reyes was one of the Liberal Party congressmen sworn in by President Aquino.

“Since petitioner (Velasco) remains the only candidate for the position of representative who garnered 48,396 votes, then the PBOC shall proclaim him as the winning candidate,” the Comelec en banc said.

Elections chair Sixto Brillantes Jr., Commissioners Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph, Grace Padaca, and Luie Guia voted to unseat Reyes.

Commissioners Christian Lim and Al Parreno dissented citing the absence of the Comelec’s jurisdiction since Reyes was already proclaimed by the PBOC.

Under the law, poll protests involving proclaimed candidates already fall under the jurisdiction of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal.

In its decision, the poll body insisted it still has jurisdiction since what was being declared null is the action of the PBOC, which is under the Comelec.

The Comelec First Division last March 27 ruled to cancel the certificate of candidacy of Reyes on the ground that she is an American citizen and lacking  the one-year required residency in the country.