Ousted lawmaker of Northern Samar regains seat

WITH BARELY a week before the elections, an ousted lawmaker has received his due in court, with the Supreme Court validating his victory three years ago.

Ousted lawmaker Harlin Abayon is the “lawfully elected representative of the first district of Northern Samar” in the 2013 elections, the high court ruled on Tuesday in a special en banc session.

The court said the ruling was “immediately executory.”

The ruling came just six days before the new election cycle and with Congress on recess.

Abayon is listed on the official House of Representatives’ website as “unseated.”

The court’s decision overturned the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal’s (HRET) ruling in February favoring former House Deputy Speaker Raul Daza’s plea against Abayon’s 2013 win.

It granted Abayon’s plea that the HRET had committed grave abuse of discretion for removing him from the roster of legislators despite the alleged lack of evidence.