MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) dismissed the disqualification case filed against Taguig City first district candidate Alan Peter Cayetano for registering a different home address from his wife Lani Cayetano in his certificate of candidacy.
The Comelec Second Division said Cayetano did not commit material representation as a spouse may abandon a family domicile in favor of his choice, or remain in the place the spouses considered their family domicile.
Comelec acted on a petition filed by Leonedes Buac Jr., who sought Alan’s disqualification by citing he failed to meet the residency requirement since the Family Code requires a married couple to live in one legal residence.
“Respondent Alan Cayetano unequivocally declared his intention to remain permanently at Bagumbayan, notwithstanding his claim that he and his wife Lani Cayetano transferred their family home, whether legally warranted or not, at Two Serendra,” it said.
“It is therefore wrong for the petitioner to conclude that respondent’s domicile is now at Two Serendra merely based on his claim they have transferred their family home thereat,” it added.
The poll body pointed out Alan did not lose his domicile at Bagumbayan by mere assertion that his wife transferred hers at Two Serendra.
While Alan is a candidate for congressman in the 1st district of Taguig City, his wife Lani, the current Taguig City mayor, is running for a congressional seat representing the same city’s second district.
Meanwhile, the same Comelec division disqualified the candidacy of actor Edu Manzano as congressman of San Juan for false material representation on his citizenship.
The Comelec said Manzano automatically renounced his Filipino citizenship when he served the United States Armed Forces from 1973 to 1977 but Manzano defended he retained his status as a natural born Filipino citizen.
“Without direct proof of his oath of allegiance being registered in the local civil registry in the place where he resides, respondent cannot be considered to have reacquired his Philippine citizenship under our laws,” Comelec said.
Atty. Sixto Brillantes said they were given five days to file a motion for reconsideration, which meant the decision to disqualify Manzano is not yet final by May 13. /PN
