TACLOBAN CITY– The local office of the Commission on Elections(Comelec) in Isabel, Leyte has dismissed the petition against former congressman Vicente ‘Ching’ Veloso relative to his transfer of registration to the town.
Veloso served as a congressman of Leyte’s third district for six years, has filed his transfer of registration to Isabel, part of Leyte’s fourth congressional district, last March 11 of this year.
But during the hearing conducted last April 15, the petition filed against Veloso by Rhodora Basilio was dismissed by the Election Registration Board(ERB) of Isabel headed by its elections officer, Maria Sarah Lanugan due to lack of merit.
”The issue to be resolved on the instant case is whether or not the respondent is qualified of registration records to Barangay Mahayag, Isabel, Leyte,” the board said.
“(But) after presentation of evidences and hearing both sides, the board unanimously decided to approve the application of herein respondent (Veloso) after establishing his residence in Brgy. Mahayag,” the four-page decision of the ERB said in dismissing the petition.
It used section 13 of the Comelec Resolution Number 10963 as to who are qualified to register, namely, at least 18 years of age on or before the day of the national or local elections and a resident of the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein he or she intends to vote and for at least six months immediately preceding the conduct of elections.
To recall, Basilio claimed that Veloso’s petition of transfer of registration should be denied by the Comelec saying that the former congressman has only a commercial building in Brgy. Mahayag and not a residencial house.
Veloso has earlier admitted that he is mulling of running as a congressman of Leyte’s fourth district which is currently held by Rep. Richard Gomez.
The country is set to hold next year a midterm elections.
