Comelec voids poll victory of 'Fil-Am' barangay captain
For maintaining citizenship of both countries -- the United States of America and the Philippines -- the electoral victory of one barangay captain in San Dionisio, Iloilo is now in peril.
In fact, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) moved to resolve that subject village chief was not qualified to be a candidate at all.
Contained in a six-paged Resolution, COMELEC Second Division Presiding Commissioner Rene Sarmiento granted the Petition for Disqualification filed against Eusebio Eugenio Lopez. Lopez won as barangay captain of Barangay Bagacay. Petitioner cum complainant is Tessie Villanueva, both coming from warring political groups of said town.
The Comelec in granting Villanueva's petition found merit on the issue anchored on the lack of Lopez's candidacy-requirement as provided for by Philippine electoral law.
While valid to have a dual citizenship here, the Comelec took note of the added provision during elections where mandated further is for any candidate with dual citizenship to make a personal and sworn renunciation of said foreign citizenship.
"For failure of respondent to prove that he renounces his allegiance to the United States, the Commission holds him disqualified from running for an elective position in the Philippines," excerpts of the Resolution went. "Lopez's subsequent victory in the polls does not cure the defect caused by his failure to comply with one of the fundamental requirements imposed by law to prospective candidates."