Two more high profile candidates for the 2019 elections are now facing disqualification cases due to alleged violation on residential requirements under the 1987 Constitution.
A Leonides Buac Jr., a Taguig City resident, filed separate cases at the Commission on Election (Comelec) against former senator and Foreign Affairs Sec. Alan Cayetano, and his wife, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano.
In his petitions, Buac said the claim of the couple to be living in separate homes is absurd
Alan Peter Cayetano is running as the representative of the First Legislative District of Taguig-Pateros, while Lani Cayetano hopes to be elected in the Second Legislative District of Taguig City
Buac cited the provision of Article 69 of the Family Code, which states that a matrimonial domicile should be in a single location for the purpose of the election.
“Thus, Alan cannot claim domicile in Barangay Bagumbayan, while his wife, Lani Cayetano, in Barangay Fort Bonifacio. In other words, they cannot run in two different districts or jurisdictions at the same time,” Buac’s counsel, Atty. Emil Marañon III, said in a statement..
Marañon further hit the Cayetano for coming up with the “ploy” as an attempt by the Cayetano family to achieve a “super dynasty.”
Buac urged Comelec to be proactive in preventing a “over-concentration” of power to a few.
The couple issued a separate statement yesterday calling on the poll body to put more premium on the preference of the constituents in deciding on the matter by allowing them to participate in the 2019 elections as candidates.
“On May 2019, we will submit to the people’s will. This is what truly matters. This is what only matters,” they said.
Both officials also said that while the cases against them is “irrelevant,” they are still ready to address the cases filed by Buac “point-by-point.”