THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday ordered the annulment of the proclamation of Luis Chua Uy as the newly-elected representative of the sixth district of the city of Manila, and declared Rep. Benny Abante as the winner in the May 12 congressional polls.
In its 19-page ruling, the Comelec Second Division granted the petition of Abante against Uy after it found the latter is not a natural-born citizen of the Philippines since his father is a Chinese citizen turned naturalized Filipino.
“Wherefore, premises considered, the Petition is granted. The proclamation of Respondent Luis ‘Joey’ Chua Uy is hereby annulled. Petitioner Bienvenido ‘Benny’ Abante, Jr., the only qualified candidate, who garnered the highest number of votes, is hereby declared as the duly-elected member of the House of Representatives for the sixth district of the city of Manila,” it ruled.
It said that “since natural-born citizenship requires that the individual be a citizen of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect such citizenship, Respondent cannot validly claim natural-born status.”
It noted that Uy’s identification certificate recognized him as a citizen of the Philippines solely by virtue of “being the legitimate son of Uy Ho, a naturalized Filipino citizen.”
“This document confirms that Respondent’s citizenship was not acquired by birthright but derived from the naturalization of his father,” said the Comelec Division.
Not being a natural-born Filipino, the Comelec said Uy is not eligible to run for congressman as the 1987 Constitution provides that “no person shall be a member of the House of Representatives unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines.”
“He is not qualified to run for or hold the position of member of the House of Representatives, and his proclamation was thus made in violation of the Constitution,” it said, adding that Uy is now considered as a “non candidate” in the May 2025 polls, which makes the votes in his favor considered as stray.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said the ruling is not yet final and executory and can still be appealed before the Commission en banc.
Asked who will assume the post of Manila City sixth district representative on June 30, Garcia said the proclamation of Uy remains valid as of the moment.
“Even if the ruling annulled the proclamation, if it is not yet final and executory, the proclamation remains in effect,” he said.
Abante hailed the Comelec Second Division’s decision as a “victory for the rule of law.”
“This is a victory not just for me and the voters of Manila’s sixth district—but for the Constitution and the rule of law,” the lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on Human Rights, said in a statement. “This is not about personalities — this is about the rule of law. The Constitution must prevail. Our democracy depends on it.”
Abante said the Constitution is clear that only natural-born Filipino citizens are qualified to serve in Congress and “the Comelec ruling reaffirms this fundamental requirement and protects the integrity of our democratic institutions.”
“This case sets an important precedent. It reminds us that those seeking public office must be held to the highest standards of eligibility and truthfulness. Our people deserve leaders whose allegiance to the country is beyond question, and whose qualifications are beyond doubt,” he said.
In another development, the Comelec en banc disqualified the elected mayor of Silang, Cavite and, subsequently, cancelled the proclamation of Alston Anarna as the winner in the last May 2025 polls.
In a five-page ruling, the Comelec overturned the previous ruling of its First Division, which dismissed the petition filed by incumbent Silang mayor Edward Carranza against Anarna.
“In light of the foregoing, this Commission finds that Respondent Alston Kevin Anarna is disqualified to run as candidate for mayor of the municipality of Silang, province of Cavite in the 12 May 2025 National and Local Elections,” it said.
The poll body also ordered that all votes cast for Anarna in the last elections be deemed as “stray.”
In its decision, the Comelec said Anarna is disqualified to run for mayor as he is perpetually disqualified to seek public office due to his dismissal by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2024.
It noted that the Ombudsman had found Anarna guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty last October 2024, and slapped him the penalty of dismissal from the service, cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
“As correctly noted by Petitioner in his Motion for Reconsideration, even without the filing of the instant Petition, the Commission has the duty to motu proprio bar from running for public office those suffering from perpetual disqualification to hold public office. We are, thus, constrained to disqualify Respondent from the 2025 NLE,” it said.
“It bears emphasis that the Comelec, as a constitutional commission, is duty-bound to protect the sanctity of elections and ensure that only qualified and eligible individuals are allowed to run for public office,” it also said.
Anarna was dismissed as Silang mayor after he was found guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty by the Ombudsman.
Carranza subsequently replaced Anarna as Silang mayor. – With Wendell Vigilia