Lawmaker to bring ouster case to Supreme Court

MANILA, Philippines - Malabon-Navotas Rep. Alvin Sandoval said yesterday his fight to keep from getting ousted from the House of Representatives is not over yet and vowed to bring the case up to the Supreme Court.

The (House) tribunal decision will not become final until his appeal is decided, and “if necessary, we will take this matter up all the way to the Supreme Court,” Sandoval said in a statement sent by his lawyers.

Sandoval said he cannot go into specifics because the matter is still sub judice. He has appealed the decision by filing a motion for reconsideration before the House tribunal.

Sandoval, younger brother of former Malabon-Navotas congressman Federico Sandoval has been ordered unseated via a decision of the House of Representatives (HRET) in an electoral recount.

The HRET has decided in favor of Josephine Lacson-Noel, who won in the recount.

Sandoval, the declared winner in the May 14, 2007 elections for the lone district of Malabon-Navotas, said he is confident that the HRET would reconsider its earlier decision.

The recount was prompted by an electoral protest filed by Noel, a candidate for the same post in the May 14, 2007 elections and Sandoval’s closest rival.

Noel is also the wife of An Waray party list Rep. Bem Noel.

Sandoval called for sobriety even as supporters of Noel were seen celebrating the decision.

To her credit, Noel told media she is not yet officially declared (as House Representative of Malabon-Navotas), adding she was aware of the appeal filed by Sandoval.

Sandoval, without naming anybody in particular, charged that, certain groups have been going around spreading false statements about the HRET’s decision and its supposed implementation.

“This serves no other purpose but to confuse the people. This must stop,” said the lawmaker.

The congressman said that his camp is now looking at the possibility of filing appropriate charges against the, for now, unnamed group believed to be the Lacson-Noel camp, “to protect the people from false information”. – Jerry Botial