Former DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and incumbent Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano. (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday expressed confidence that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will dismiss the petition challenging his and his wife’s congressional bids in Pateros.
The petitions, filed by election lawyer Emilio Marañon III for a certain Leonides C. Buac Jr., asked Comelec to nullify the Cayetano couple’s certificates of candidacy (COCs) over an apparent ploy on “dynastic expansion.”
READ: Comelec asked to nullify Cayetano couple’s COCs
“We’re very confident kasi unang-una the law is on our side,” Cayetano told reporters in an interview.
Cayetano, also a former senator, is vying for a congressional seat to represent Taguig City’s first district while his wife Lani – the incumbent Taguig City Mayor – is gunning to become the representative of Taguig City’s second district in Congress.
The former top diplomat argued that the complaint was just a “political issue” because jurisprudence states that “the Family Code does not apply to the Election Code.”
“Sa Election Law, basta mapakita mo na domicile mo ‘yun and napakaraming sitwasyon na Pilipino, ‘yung asawa…’yung lalaki’t babae na mag-asawa magkahiwalay ang lugar ng pag-rehistro nila. Meron ‘yan sa Congress, meron ‘yan sa mayor,” he said.
According to the petition, the Cayetano couple has failed to possess minimum residency qualification imposed by the 1987 Constitution for members of the House of Representatives.
The petitioner said Cayetano’s declared residence in his COC was in Barangay Bagumbayan in Taguig City’s first district while Lani stated in her COC that she resides in Barangay Fort Bonifacio located in Taguig City’s second district.
The petitioner stressed that under Articles 68 and 69 of the Family Code a couple is mandated to maintain “fix one matrimonial domicile or residence.”
The complaint is currently pending at the Comelec.
READ: Comelec hears petition to cancel COCs of Cayetanos
Registered voters are set to choose district representatives as well as local government executives and senators in the upcoming midterm elections slated on May 13. /kga