Former Taguig mayor and congressional candidate Lino Cayetano said he will appeal a decision by a Regional Trial Court that ordered the removal of his name from the list of voters in a barangay.
Cayetano is running for congressman in the 1st District of Taguig-Pateros in the May 12 national and local elections. His rival is incumbent Rep. Ricardo Cruz Jr., who was earlier endorsed by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and his wife, Mayor Lani Cayetano.
Incumbent 1st District of Taguig-Pateros Rep. Ricardo Cruz Jr. (left) and Lino Cayetano (Photos from Rep. Cruz and Cayetano's Facebook accounts)
Lino Cayetano and his wife, Fille, applied to transfer their voter registration to Barangay Ususan in the 1st District.
However, the Election Registration Board (ERB) of Taguig disapproved their application for failure to meet the requirements of residency.
Lino Cayetano filed a petition for inclusion with the Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) Branch 74, which granted it in a decision dated Feb. 17.
In response, the ERB Taguig filed a Notice of Appeal by Record on Appeal with the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 153 to reverse the MeTC decision.
In a ruling dated March 5, the Taguig RTC granted the ERB Taguig’s appeal.
“Considering the foregoing, this Court agrees with the ERB's 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,” the court said.
It added, “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.”
“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 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 petitioners-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 added.
After the decision came out, Lino Cayetano said he will appeal.
“Hindi pa tapos ang laban. Tuloy po ang ating laban (The fight is not over yet. Our fight continues).,” he posted on Facebook.
“Noong Pebrero 17, 2025, nagdesisyon ang Municipal Trial Court (MTC) na kami ay mga lehitimong residente at rehistradong botante ng Unang Distrito. Ngayon araw, nagdesisyon ang Regional Trial Court (RTC) na baligtarin at itabi ang aming naunang tagumpay sa MTC. Bagama't isa itong bagong hamon, hindi nito pinahihina ang aming determinasyon. Tuloy ang laban. Naniniwala ako na ang katotohanan at demokrasya ang mananaig (On February 17, 2025, the Municipal Trial Court (MTC) ruled that we are legitimate residents and registered voters of the First District. Today, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) has decided to reverse and set aside our previous victory in the MTC. Although this is a new challenge, it does not weaken our resolve. The fight continues. I believe that truth and democracy will prevail),” he added.
He said, “Ang isyu ng residency, pati na rin ang iba pang personal na pag-atake, ay naging paksa rin ng fake news at black propaganda na kumakalat sa Taguig nitong mga nakaraang linggo. Ako po ay nananawagan sa ating mga kababayan na maging mapanuri at huwag magpadala sa maling impormasyon. Nanatili kaming matatag sa aming paniniwala na sa huli, ang demokrasya ang magwawagi (The residency issue, as well as other personal attacks, have also been the subject of fake news and black propaganda circulating in Taguig in recent weeks. I call on our countrymen to be critical and not give in to misinformation. We remain steadfast in our belief that in the end, democracy will prevail).”
He said he will appeal the decision and believes that he will win.
“Gagamitin namin ang aming karapatang i-apela ang desisyong ito, nang may buong kumpiyansa na ang katotohanan ay lalabas at ang hustisya ay makakamit. Hindi lamang ito isang laban sa korte kundi isang laban para sa bawat mamamayang may karapatang lumahok sa isang malinis at patas na demokratikong proseso. Mananatili ang aming matapat at buong-pusong hangaring maglingkod sa mga mamamayan ng Taguig at Pateros (We will exercise our right to appeal this decision, with full confidence that the truth will come out and justice will be done. This is not just a court battle but a battle for every citizen who has the right to participate in a clean and fair democratic process. Our sincere and wholehearted desire to serve the people of Taguig and Pateros remains intact).
He said, “Ang ating magandang posisyon sa mga nagdaang survey ay patunay ng sama-samang tinig ng mga nakikibahagi sa aming hangarin, at Ialo pa itong nagbibigay ng lakas ng 100b sa amin upang ipagpatuloy ang laban (Our good position in the past surveys is proof of the collective voice of those who share our cause, and Ialo gives us 100b more strength to continue the fight).”