The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has paved the way for Senator Loren Legarda, who is running as Antique representative in the May elections, after dismissing the disqualification case filed against her.
The Comelec’s Second Division dismissed the petitions filed by Robin P. Rubinos and former Antique Governor Exequiel B. 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 Potrero, 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.
“Nothing will stop me from serving our people and I hope we can focus on what we can do for Antique.”
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.”
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.
“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 said.
