SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – There are no more hurdles in Sen. Loren Legarda’s bid to run for the post of representative in the lone district of Antique after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) dismissed the two disqualification cases filed against her.
“It’s a triple win,” the lady senator’s team said in a statement sent to the media.
Earlier, the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Pandan-Libertad-Caluya in Antique also dismissed the Petition for Exclusion filed against Legarda; while last October 2018, the Election Registration Board (ERB) of Pandan, Antique already upheld the transfer of voter registration of Legarda to Barangay Mag-aba in Pandan.
The Comelec (Second Division) has dismissed the petitions filed by Robin Rubinos and former Antique governor Exequiel Javier to deny due course or cancel Legarda’s Certificate of Candidacy for Representative of Antique because she has been able to transfer her residency from Portero, Malabon to Pandan, Antique more than one year before election day, which is the requirement under the law.
“I thank the Comelec for siding with the truth. I welcome its favorable decision, which further proves that I am certainly qualified to run as Congresswoman of Antique. I have proven several times that I am a resident of Barangay Mag-aba in Pandan and my roots can be traced back to Antique. The COMELEC has upheld this through its dismissal of the disqualification case against me,” said Legarda.
The Comelec Resolution signed by presiding commissioner Luie Tito F. Guia reads, “The Commission (Second Division) finds that Legarda did not misrepresent in her CoC her period of residence in Antique. Evidence shows that she has been able to change her domicile of choice from Potrero, Malabon to Pandan, Antique more than one year prior to the day of the election. No proof was introduced to effectively refute those offered by Legarda to establish her eligibility for the office to which she seeks to be elected.”
“I thank my kasimanwas who showed their support and who believed in me. Nothing will stop me from serving our people and I hope we can focus on what we can do for Antique,” Legarda concluded.
The Comelec decision said that the petitioners failed to present enough evidence to prove their allegations that Legarda has no actual presence in Barangay Mag-aba, Pandan, Antique.
Legarda, on the other hand, was able to present proof regarding her residency in the area since Jan. 1, 2018, after presenting her lease contract for the house she considers her new residence, as well as letters from residents of the said barangay welcoming her in the community.
“It is worthy to note that the letters from the residents of the Barangay welcoming Legarda as well as other exhibits of similar import were not belied nor questioned by Rubinos and Javier,” the Comelec said.
The Comelec added that Legarda’s application for the transfer of her voter registration record from Malabon to Pandan, Antique is indicative, not only of her intention to reside permanently in Barangay Mag-aba, but also of her intention to abandon her previous domicile in Potrero.
Javier, in a petition filed before the Comelec, said that the outgoing senator should be disqualified as she is a “stranger” to the province, who “came out of nowhere” to run for the said post. (Adrian Stewart Co/PN)
