Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175127300203920211111-comelec-building-jc-013751950.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">The Palacio Del Gobernador headquarters to the Commission on Elections in Intramuros Manila on Nov. 11, 2021. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file </em></span></span></span>MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) doesn’t want to speculate on the fate of rival congressional bets in the 6th District of Manila as it will face procedural and technical issues as the opening of the 20th Congress looms.</div><p>“Mahirap pa kasi mag-speculate at this point kasi alam natin merong procedural at technical issues na mare-raise yung bawat partido sa kasong yan. Ang importante lang at least bago matapos ang a-trenta ng Hunyo nadesisyunan ng Comelec yung bagay na yan and therefore, kung paano ito ipapatupad o hindi maipapatupad—tingnan natin yung susunod na mangyayari diyan,” Garcia said.</p><p>The Comelec earlier declared Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. &quot;as the duly elected Member, House of Representatives, 6th District of the City of Manila&quot; as the poll body suspended election winner Joey Uy&#x27;s proclamation for not being a natural-born Filipino. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/30/comelec-junks-mr-of-joey-uy-declares-benny-abante-winner-of-manila-6th-district-race-0932">Comelec junks MR of Joey Uy, declares Benny Abante 6th District race winner of Manila</a></div><p>“Nasa board of canvassers na yan ng city ng Manila, and at the same time tingnan natin yung magiging application ng provision ng Saligang Batas na by 12:01 (pm) ngayon ay dapat merong nakaupo na kongresista diyan sa distritong yan sa Manila,” Garcia added.</p><p>According to Garcia, a winning candidate can assume office as long as he/she was able to comply with all the necessary requirements based on Supreme Court jurisprudence in the case of Reyes vs Comelec.</p><p>“Basta sinasabi ng Reyes vs Comelec, so long as merong proclamation, merong oath at merong assumption to office ng alas-dose y uno ng tanghali ang isang tao na kandidato for Congress ay makakaupo bilang kongresista. So nasa kanila na yan kung sa kanilang palagay ay na-comply yung 3 requisites na yun ng desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa Reyes vs Comelec na kinakailangan present yung lahat ng requisites na yun. Isa lang sa mga requisites ang mawala, ay walang pupwedeng makaupo na kongresista pagdating ng tanghali ngayong araw na ito,” said Garcia.</p><p>The poll chief said both parties can still go up to the Supreme Court.</p><p>According to Garcia, its jurisdiction over local officials remains.</p><p>“Sa lahat ng local positions, gubernador hanggang sangguniang bayan na merong kaso sa Comelec anoman ang nature, cancellation or disqualification, ang Comelec ay may jurisdiction pa rin,” said Garcia.</p><p>Election cases against congressmen are handled by the House Electoral Tribunal (HRET), Garcia said while the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) will have jurisdiction over poll charges against senators.</p><p>In an ambush interview, Garcia explained what is important is that the poll body was able to decide on the case before June 30.</p><div><strong>COMELEC DECLARES ABANTE WINNER</strong></div><p>In an en banc decision promulgated June 30, 2025, the poll body junked the motion for reconsideration of Luis “Joey” Chua Uy, seeking the reversal of the Comelec 2nd Division ruling to suspend his proclamation for not being a natural-born Filipino.</p><p>“Napatunayan ng Commission en banc na yung majority, 5-2 na nagsasabi na hindi nila pinaniniwalaan yung argumento nung respondent na tama yung argumento ng commission division na kung saan ang naturang respondent ay hindi Filipino citizen,&quot; said Comelec Chairman George Garcia. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/24/joey-uy-seeks-reversal-of-comelec-second-division-ruling-1530">Joey Uy seeks reversal of Comelec Second Division ruling</a></div><p>He explained the 1935 Constitution, which was in effect when Uy was born, states that only the natural-born Filipinos are qualified to be a congressman. </p><p>&quot;Nangangahulugan, ‘pag hindi ka natural born Filipino…kahit na naturalize Filipino ay hindi puwedeng maging kongresista. Ang sabi ng commission division at commission en banc—siya ay hindi natural born Filipino citizen,” Garcia said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QMP2C-e8rvA?si=hrtj5fidMzonGG1Z" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The Commission on Elections doesn’t want to speculate on the fate of rival congressional bets in the 6th District of Manila as it will face procedural and technical issues as the opening of the 20th Congress looms.</p>

The Commission on Elections doesn’t want to speculate on the fate of rival congressional bets in the 6th District of Manila as it will face procedural and technical issues as the opening of the 20th Congress looms.

Comelec leaves technical issues to rival Manila congressional bets

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Comelec leaves technical issues to rival Manila congressional bets

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 30, 2025 05:04 PM PHT

Read More:

George Garcia

Benny Abante

Joey Uy

Manila 6th District

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