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July 16, 2010
QUEZON CITY – The House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) is yet to be convened but it is already being deluged with cases of electoral protests. Already, the HRET has received 56 election protests. Former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos, who won as congresswoman of Ilocos Norte, lead the lawmakers being protested.
The list include actress-turnedrepresentative Lucy Torres-Gomez, wife of actor Richard Gomez, of Leyte, Quezon City Rep. Vincent Crisologo, Manila Rep. Sandy Ocampo, Makati Rep. Abigail Binay, and Rep. Tomas Apacible of Batangas. Mrs. Marcos’ residency is being questioned by her opponent, Mariano Nalupta Jr. The former First Lady had earlier served as congresswoman of Leyte.
Residency is also the issue on Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez. Taipan Lucio Tan’s daughter Vivienne filed the protest against Congresswoman Crisologo while former Rep. Bienvenido Abante filed the protest against Ocampo. Apacible won over former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita who filed the protest. The HRET is composed of six House members, who will be chosen once the 15th Congress opens on July 26, and three justices of the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Renato Corona recently designated Justices Conchita Carpio-Morales, Antonio Eduardo Nachura and Arturo Brion as the SC component in the HRET. The first to be filed was an electoral protest against Bataan Rep.
Herminia Roman. Former Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor and former Quezon City Councilor Franz Pumaren also questioned the victory of Quezon City Rep. Jorge John Banal Jr.