Former Cong. Henry Ong’s protest against the lady lawmaker was junked by the HRET for failing to clearly and convincingly demonstrate that Congresswoman Javier had completely abandoned Jaro, Leyte as her domicile of origin.
In her counter-affidavit, Javier maintains that she was born and raised in the municipality of Jaro, Leyte, and is obviously qualified to represent the constituency in the 2nd District
TACLOBAN CITY- FOR lack of clear and convincing evidence, the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) has unanimously dismissed the disqualification case filed by former Rep. Henry Ong against his rival and incumbent Leyte 2nd District Congresswoman Karen Javier.
In a 29-page decision dated February 11, 2021, the tribunal unanimously voted (8-0) to dismiss the petition for quo warranto filed by Ong.
The tribunal’s ruling was the final blow for Ong’s bid to nullify Javier’s victory in the last elections.
To recall, Ong refused to accept his defeat and tried to move heaven and earth to unseat Javier as the duly elected and proclaimed representative of the Second District of Leyte.
Former Cong. Henry Ong from GMA Network
Lack of sufficient evidence
In his petition for quo warranto filed in July 2019, Ong alleged that Javier is not a resident of the second district of Leyte; hence, she is ineligible to represent the district in Congress.
Ong further accused Javier of falsifying legal documents when she filed her candidacy with a claim of residency in the second district.
The losing representative argued that Javier has abandoned her residency in Jaro town in Leyte's second district when she relocated to the municipality of Javier in the province's fifth district to join her husband.
"It is quite absurd and confusing as to why Respondent Javier is claiming to be resident/domiciliary of Jaro, Leyte when the rest of her family are residents/domiciliaries of Javier, Leyte," the petition read.
The tribunal however has found Ong’s claim weak, claiming they were lacking sufficient evidence.
“Evidence presented were carefully weighed and were found to be insufficient,” the ruling said.
Qualified
The HRET ruling underscored Javier’s irrefutable claims of residency in the second district as they were effectively “supported by several documentary exhibits.”
In her counter-affidavit, Javier maintains that she was born and raised in the municipality of Jaro, Leyte, and is obviously qualified to represent the constituency in the 2nd District.
According to her, having been a domicile in Jaro where she stayed and spent her childhood and growing years, she is “well-acquainted with the needs of the said constituency and she knows their aspirations, potentials for growth and development.”
Dismissed
In effect, the former congressman’s failure to prove his case before the electoral tribunal consequently mean the dismissal of the case.
The HRET has unanimously ruled to dismiss the petition. The decision, which was only released last week, March 18, specifically mentioned the defect of Ong’s argument as it “was wanting and insufficient of irrefutable evidence” that would have nailed Javier.
The HRET’s ruling noted specifically that the evidence presented by Ong’s camp “was wanting and insufficient to clearly and convincingly demonstrate that Congresswoman Javier had completely abandoned Jaro, Leyte as her domicile of origin.
Growing political influence
The lady lawmaker is now in the middle of her first term and is poised to making an even stronger political hold should she choose to run for another term, her supporters said in a post.
Congresswoman Karen is the wife of businessman turned politician Sandy Javier.
Sandy is the founding chairman of the famed food chain Andok’s Chicken with hundreds of branches and outlets nationwide.
Sandy, who is still “very much involved in local politics,” was the former mayor of the town of Javier, an interior and then laid back municipality of the fifth district of Leyte.
The now economically vibrant and thriving and town is being led by his son, Mayor Michael Dragon Javier. (RM)
Tags: #HRE, #HouseofRepresentative, #Congw.Javie, #LocalPolitic, #Cong.Ong