Former Taguig mayor and 1st District of Taguig-Pateros congressional candidate Lino Cayetano said his name is still on the ballot for the May 12 national and local elections despite a court order for the removal of his name from the list of voters.
Based on the ballot template issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Cayetano’s name appears as a candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition for congressman in the 1st District of Taguig-Pateros. together with fellow candidates incumbent Rep. Ricardo Cruz Jr. of the Nacionalista Party, Allan Cerafica of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, and independent bets Ricardo Opoc and Peter Dela Cruz.
Lino Cayetano and the Comelec ballot showing his name (Photos from Lino Cayetano's Facebook account)
“Nasa balota po tayo. Lets let the lawyer fight out the legal battles habang tayo ay may diskurso tungkol sa mga programa at polisya para sa Taguig at Pateros Madami dapat pag usapan sa paghahanap ng trabaho at kabuhayan, pag taas ng bilihin at magandang sistema sa ayuda, healthcare at medical assistance at madami pa iba (We are on the ballot. Let's let the lawyer fight out the legal battles while we have a discourse about programs and policies for Taguig and Pateros. There is a lot to talk about in terms of finding jobs and livelihoods, rising prices and a good aid system, healthcare and medical assistance and many others.),” Cayetano posted on Facebook.
Cruz is being supported by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and his wife, Mayor Lani Cayetano.
In a decision, the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 153 ordered the Election of Board of Taguig City to remove names of Cayetano and his wife, Fille, from the list of voters of Precinct No. 0926A, Barangay Usuan, Taguig for their failure “to establish the required residency requirement.”
Cayetano and his wife applied to transfer their voter registration to the 1st District.
“Accordingly, the Decision dated February 17. 2025 rendered by Metropolitan Trial Court, Branch 74, Taguig City in Special Proceedings No. 25-845 is hereby reversed and set aside. Accordingly, the Election of Board of Taguig City is directed to exclude from the official list of voters of Precinct No. 0926A, Barangay Usuan, Taguig City the names of petitiones-appellees Lino Edgardo Cayetano and Fille Saint Merced Cayetano. This Decision is immediately final and executory. No motion for reconsideration shall be entertained,” the court said.
In the ruling, the court said, “Considering the foregoing, this Court agrees with the ERB's [Election Registration Board] ruling, disapproving petitioners-appellees' application for Transfer of Registration, contained in the Notice dated 28 October 2024 issued by the Election Registration Board of Taguig City. Premises considered, and for failure of petitioners-appellees; to establish the required residency requirement and the petition for inclusion having been filed out of time, the instant appeal filed by the private respondents-appellants is hereby granted.”