There is no impediment anymore in Sen. Loren B. Legarda’s congressional bid in Antique in the May 13 midterm polls.
The Commission on Elections Second Division has dismissed the petitions filed against her by lawyer Robin Rubinos and former Antique Gov. Exequiel Javier.
“The Commission finds that Legarda did not misrepresent in her CoC her period of residence in Antique,” it said. “Wherefore, premises considered, the Commission resolves to dismiss the petitions filed by Rubinos and Javier,” it added.
The poll body said the petitioners failed to present sufficient proof on record to contradict Loren’s assertion that she is a resident of Barangay Mag-aba in Pandan, Antique.
Javier filed a petition asking that the Certificate of Candidacy of Loren be denied due course or cancelled on the ground that she supposedly made a false material misrepresentation when she claimed to be a resident of Barangay Mag-Aba.
Loren’s camp denied this in her verified answer, insisting that she is a resident of Barangay Mag-Aba.
She revealed that from Jan. 1, 2018 up to the present, she has been leasing a residential house located in the area.
The Comelec also said Loren was able to present proofs that she established residence in the area since that date.
“It is worthy to note that the letters from the residents of the barangay welcoming Legarda as well as other exhibits of similar import were not belied nor questioned by Rubinos and Javier,” it said.
“Legarda’s application for the transfer of her voter registration record from Malabon City to Pandan, Antique is indicative, not only of her intention to reside permanently in Barangay Mag-aba, but also of her intention to abandon her previous domicile in Potrero,” said the poll body. (Leslie Ann Aquino)
