Comelec division declares Abante as winner in Manila’s 6th district
Metro Manila, Philippines - Benny Abante is set to be reelected to the House of Representatives after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division declared him the duly elected representative of Manila City’s 6th District.
In a resolution promulgated on Wednesday, June 19 and released to the media on Thursday, the Comelec Second Division annulled the proclamation of Luis Chua Uy after voiding his certificate of candidacy, deeming him a non-candidate.
Only Abante and Uy ran for the 6th district race.
Votes cast for Uy during the May 2025 elections were considered stray, according to the decision. This made Abante “the only qualified candidate who garnered the highest number of votes.”
The resolution came as Abante filed a petition before the poll body to recall Uy’s proclamation, alleging that Uy was not a natural-born Filipino citizen. Uy denied the allegations in his answer to the commission.
But election officials decided that Uy was “at most a naturalized citizen, not a natural-born one,” as both of his parents were non-Filipinos when he was born.
“Therefore, Respondent’s claim, including his declaration under oath in his COC (certificate of candidacy) that he is a natural-born Filipino citizen, [is] wrong,” the Comelec Second Division said. “In effect, he made a false declaration in his COC, which constitutes material misrepresentation under Section 78 of the Omnibus Election Code.”
Uy could still appeal the decision to the poll body’s en banc. Pending the final ruling, he could still assume the post after June 30.
“Ang decision po ng en banc ay maging [The en banc decision will be] executory after five days from promulgation,” Comelec chairperson George Garcia told reporters in a message.
Vice President Sara Duterte endorsed Uy and mounted a negative campaign against Abante.
“This is not about personalities—this is about the rule of law,” Abante said in a statement. “The Constitution must prevail. Our democracy depends on it.”
