The Supreme Court (SC) was asked to compel the House of Representatives (HOR) to include the name of Luis Joey Chua Uy in its roll of members and to recognize him officially as the legal representative of Manila’s sixth district in Congress.

In a petition for mandamus and prohibition, Uy told the SC that last May 13, he was proclaimed winner in the elections by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and took his oath of office days later.

He pointed out that by operation of law, he assumed office at noon of June 30, 2025 “with every intention to serve.”

However, he lamented that the beginning of his legislative service last June 30 was met with refusal when the HOR declined to recognize him and excluded his name from the roll of members.

He said that the HOR’s refusal was based on the June 30 resolution of the Comelec, as a full commission, which nullified his proclamation. But, he said, the June 30 resolution of the Comelec can attain executory status beyond the date of its issuance and by that time, the jurisdiction on the issue is already vested in the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET).

“Despite this lack of legal basis or due process, I have been barred from exercising the duties of my office, unjustly regarding the electoral mandate entrusted to me by my constituents,” Uy told the SC in his petition filed last July 3 through the Gialogo & Associates law firm led by lawyer Edward G. Gialogo.

Thus, he said, he invoked the authority of the SC to restrain officials acts tainted with illegality and to compel the performance of a clear and ministerial duties.

“What is at stake is not merely a seat in Congress, but the sanctity of the electoral process,” he stressed.

In his first petition filed last June 30, Uy asked the SC to nullify the June 30 ruling of the Comelec that declared Bienvenido Abante Jr. as the duly elected member of HOR for Manila’s sixth district.

Uy’s first petition has not been acted upon by the SC. It was not known immediately if it will be taken up during the SC’s full court session on Tuesday, July 8.

In his June 30 petition, Uy told the SC that the jurisdiction over questions involving his election, returns or qualifications become exclusively vested in the HRET.

He asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a status quo order to maintain the status of the parties to their respective positions before the issuance by the Comelec of the June 18 and June 30 resolutions.

On his qualification that was challenged, Uy told the SC that the birth certificate and marriage certificate he presented confirm that he was born to a Chinese father, who subsequently acquired Filipino citizenship through naturalization, and to a natural-born Filipina mother.

Thus, he asserted that his natural-born Filipino citizenship is clearly supported by factual evidence and was asserted in good faith.

Also, he said his personal history consistently affirms his genuine Filipino identity as he was born and raised in Manila, received his education in local schools, resides permanently in Manila, has regularly exercised his right to vote as a Filipino citizen, and actively participated in democratic processes.

At the same time, he said he had served as an elected councilor of Manila’s 6th District for several terms, demonstrating long-standing public service to the Filipino people.