The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has stopped the second attempt of former Pasig City Mayor Maria Belen Andaya-Eusebio to run for a congressional seat in Camarines Sur.
The poll body junked Eusebio’s certificate of candidacy (CoC) for “false material representation” in claiming she was eligible to run as a substitute candidate in the first legislative district of Camarines Sur which was established to be no longer her official residence.
In a unanimous resolution dated April 20, the Comelec’s first division canceled Eusebio’s COC after ruling that she was “not a bona fide resident” of the municipality of Ragay in the first district of Camarines Sur, and as such had “made a false material representation in her COC.
The resolution was signed by presiding Commissioner Socorro Inting and Commissioners Aimee Ferolino and Aimee Torrefranca-Neri.
The resolution stopped Eusebio from running as a substitute candidate for her brother, former House Majority Leader and ex-Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., who originally filed his candidacy for congressman in the first district, but later decided to run instead for governor of the province.
This was the second time that the Comelec had barred Eusebio from seeking a congressional seat in Camarines Su.
The poll body canceled her COC for the 2019 midterm polls when she tried to run for a seat to represent the second legislative district by similarly making a false material representation that she was then a bona fide resident of that district’s municipality of Libmanan, which was supposed to be her official residence.
“As such, her COC for the position of Member, House of Representatives for the First District of Camarines Sur should be cancelled,” the Comelec decision stated.
“Again, to successfully effect a change of domicile, one must demonstrate an actual removal or an actual change of domicile; a bona fide intention of abandoning the former place of residence and establishing a new one and definite acts which correspond with the purpose.”
“The purpose to remain in or at the domicile of choice must be for an indefinite period of time; the change of residence must be voluntary; and the residence at the place chosen for the new domicile must be actual,” the resolution stated.
Political observers believe this fatal blow to Eusebio’s candidacy has severely hurt the poll chances of her brother, gubernatorial bet Rolando Jr., and further sealed the landslide victory of young entrepreneur Luigi Renato ‘LRV’ Villafuerte, who is likewise running for governor of Camarines Sur.`