Liberal Party Regina O. Reyes baluktutan blues

2 lawmakers with pending cases assume office

By Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star) | Updated July 5, 2013 - 12:00am

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"MANILA, Philippines - Two congresswomen with cases still pending with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have assumed office and started doing their job as new members of Congress.

The two are Regina Reyes of the lone district of Marinduque and Angelina Tan of Quezon’s fourth district.

Reyes beat then incumbent Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco, son of Supreme Court (SC) Justice Presbitero Velasco. The Comelec disqualified her but the decision became final after the provincial board of canvassers proclaimed her as the winning candidate. The SC later upheld the Comelec decision.

Reyes has filed a manifestation with the SC that she has assumed office. She has been validly proclaimed, taken her oath of office, started her term, and will continue doing her job, Reyes’ husband, former Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, said yesterday."

Nasa itaas ang pahayag ng kampo ni Reyes. Malaki ang kaibahan nito sa binanggit dito na desisyon ng Korte Suprema. Basahin sa Manila Bulletin click. Sinabi na ng Korte Suprema na:

"Mas mahalaga, hindi natin maaaring balewalain ang katotohanan sa kontrobersiyang ito na bago maproklama si Reyes noong Mayo 18, 2013, ang Comelec en banc ay nakapagdesisyon pinal na sa usapin ng kanyang kakulangan ng Filipino citizenship at residency sa pamamagitan ng desisyon na may petsa 14 May 2013. Pagkaraan ng 14 May 2013, ay wala nang nakabimbin na kaso sa Comelec tugkol sa diskwalipikasyon ni Reyes...

"Hindi natin maaring balewalain ang katunayang ito kung tatanggapin natin ang argumento ni Reyes na ang Comelec ay nawalan ng jurisdiction nang siya ay maproklama, na naganap apat na araw matapos ang Comelec en banc decision.

"Ang board of canvassers na nagproklama kay Reyes sa ginawa nito ay hindi maaring magawang walang silbi ang desisyon ng Comelec en banc na kumatig sa desisyon ng Comelec first division", sabi ng SC.  

("More importantly, we cannot disregard a fact basic in this controversy that before the proclamation of Reyes on 18 May 2013, the Comelec en banc had already finally disposed of the issue of her lack of Filipino citizenship and residency via a resolution dated 14 May 2013. After 14 May 2013, there was, before the Comelec, no longer any pending case on Reyes' disqualification to run for the position of member of the House of Representatives. We will inexcusably disregard this fact if we accept the argument of Reyes that the Comelec was ousted of jurisdiction when she was proclaimed, which was four days after the Comelec en banc decision. The board of canvassers which proclaimed Reyes cannot by such act be allowed to render nugatory a decision of the Comelec en banc which affirmed a decision of the Comelec first division,: the SC said.")