Benny Abante is Manila 6th district representative - Comelec

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruled that Benny Abante should be proclaimed anew as the Manila 6th district representative and not Joey Uy.

The Comelec denied Uy’s appeal to the poll body’s second division which declared Abante as the district representative.

The poll body annulled Uy’s proclamation as he is not a natural-born Filipino.

“The Board of Canvassers of the City of Manila is hereby directed to RECONVENE and PROCLAIM Petitioner BIENVENIDO ‘BENNY’ MIRANDO ABANTE, JR.,, the only qualified candidate, as the duly elected Member of the House of Representatives for the Sixth (6th) District of the City of Manila,” stated the resolution released on Monday, June 30.

Abante thanked the poll body for its “courage and clarity,” noting that the case shows the importance of protecting democratic institutions’ integrity.

“The ruling of the Commission on Elections En Banc is a reaffirmation of what we have always believed: that in public service, the truth matters—and that the Rule of Law must prevail over misrepresentation and the temptation to win at all costs,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Uy went to the House of Representatives as it was supposedly his first day to assume office.

However, his bills were refused when he filed them as he was not on the roll of House members.

“Ito po ay kinabigla namin sapagkat bagamat may desisyon na lumabas ang Comelec kaninang umaga, nasa Konstitusyon din naman po na ang mga pasya ng Comelec en banc ay maaaring iakyat sa Korte Suprema at ito ay magiging executory lamang within five days mula nang ito ay mailabas,” Uy’s lawyer, Edward Gialogo, told reporters.

[Translation: We were shocked because while there was a Comelec decision released this morning, it is under the Constitution that Comelec en banc’s decisions may be raised to the Supreme Court and it will only be executory within five days after the decision was released.]

“So, ngayon po hindi pa ‘yun executory at ang proclaimed winner po sa eleksyon ay si Cong. Joey,” he added.

[Translation: So, it is not yet executory and the proclaimed election winner is Cong. Joey.]

Uy’s camp challenged the Comelec decision to the Supreme Court.

House spokesperson Princess Abante, the former congressman’s daughter, was asked if the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) will take over the case.

She said it has not yet been organized.

“HRET’s jurisdiction arises when three things occur: proclamation, taking of oath before the Speaker in open session, and assumption, that happens on July 28,” the spokesperson said in a briefing.