KALIBO, Aklan – Antiqueña Sen. Loren Legarda said she is “confident” that her congressional bid in Antique will push through.
Legarda – who faces a disqualification complaint filed by Antique representative Exequiel Javier – was in this capital town for the groundbreaking of the P50-million Promotions, Investment and Tourism Building of the Aklan provincial government.
Javier’s legal counsel Atty. Vladimir Pelaez filed the disqualification complaint at the Commission on Elections recently.
Javier said Legarda has not met the “one-year residency requirement” to be considered a voter of Antique.
“Why? Are they afraid?” said Legarda, adding: “I am a resident of Barangay Mag-aba, Pandan, Antique for a year and a half already.”
Antique governor Rhodora Cadiao filed Legarda’s certificate of candidacy on Oct. 17 – the last day of the filing period.
“President Rodrigo Duterte has asked me to sit as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. I refused because the Antiqueños needed my help,” Legarda said.
“I received 200,000 signatures from Antique asking me to run for a local post. It’s a big sacrifice but it’s worth it,” she added.
The senator filed her application to transfer her voter’s registration from Malabon City, Metro Manila to Pandan, Anitique on Sept. 28.
Former Antique vice governor Robin Rubinos also filed an opposition on her voter’s transfer application at the Comelec office in Pandan on Oct. 4.
Rubinos said Legarda is not a resident of Pandan, adding: “The domicile of origin of the applicant is Malabon City, which remains as her domicile as she has not fulfilled the requirements in acquiring a new domicile in Mag-aba, Pandan, Antique.”
But Legarda said she has already transferred domicile early this year in compliance with the law./PN
