New Malabon lawmaker assumes seat

MANILA, Philippines - The new congresswoman of Malabon-Navotas, Jaye Lacson Noel, finally assumed her seat in the House of Representatives on Monday night.

She took her oath of office before Deputy Speaker Simeon Datumanong in the presence of her husband, Rep. Florencio “Bem” Noel of the party-list group An Waray, and other House members.

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II paved the way for her oath taking. He informed his colleagues that the ruling of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) declaring Lacson-Noel as having won over Alvin Sandoval has become “final and executory” Nov. 13. He said the tribunal has also issued a writ of execution and therefore, the House had no choice but to comply with its decision.

Even with the HRET ruling, Sandoval still attended Monday’s session. He walked out only when Gonzales forced the issue.

By a unanimous vote, the tribunal has ruled that Noel won over Sandoval by just 542 votes.

It denied Sandoval’s motion for reconsideration, also by a unanimous vote. The new Malabon-Navotas representative will serve the unexpired portion of her predecessor’s three-year term, which expires on June 30, 2010. In other words, she will serve only for six months and three weeks.