Marinduque solon to appeal Reyes’ proclamation

The controversy over the proclamation of Marinduque’s lone representative to Congress is far from over, said an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan).

Comelec Assistant Election Director Emmanual Ignacio said Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco may still petition for the annulment of the proclamation of Regina Reyes.

Velasco, of the National Unity Party, lost his reelection bid by a margin of 3,813 votes to Reyes but the former said Reyes’ proclamation was illegal since she was not a candidate in the first place.

Reyes, a member of the Liberal Party and an heiress of a political clan in the province, was disqualified by the Comelec first division to run in the May 13 elections for being an American citizen. The Comelec en banc upheld this earlier ruling in a resolution on May 14.

Reyes’ disqualification, however, was “not final and executory,” hence she was proclaimed winner in the congressional race, Ignacio explained.

“Reyes’ camp also denied receiving a copy [of the May 14 resolution],” he added in a phone interview on Monday.

The Marinduque board of canvassers, then chaired by Election Supervisor Edwin Villa, already proclaimed Reyes and her mother, reelectionist Gov. Carmencita Reyes, on May 14 but Velasco’s camp questioned this and filed a motion to defer the proclamation.

The Inquirer learned that Villa later requested to be relieved from Marinduque due to “threats on his life,” prompting Ignacio to take over the provincial board of canvassers.

“I asked them (Velasco’s lawyers) if they would file an appeal and they categorically said yes,” Ignacio said, adding that legal recourses were explained to both camps during a hearing on Saturday.

He, however, refused to discuss the reported threats against Villa.