CamSur RTC orders removal of Aga Muhlach, wife from voters’ list

Actor Aga Muhlach’s political fate is still uncertain after San Jose Regional Trial Court in Camarines Sur affirmed an earlier court decision removing the actor and his wife, Charlene Gonzales-Muhlach, from the voters’ list. In a December 17 decision, San Jose Regional Trial Court Fifth Judicial Region said: “Excluding Ariel Aquino Muhlach and Charlene Mae Bonnin Muhlach from the List of Voters of Precinct No. 10A Barangay San Juan, San Jose Camarines Sur, is hereby Affirmed.” Early last month, the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of San Jose, Camarines Sur, ruled to strike off the Muhlach couple from the voters' list after the two failed to establish their residency six months before the registration period, as required by Comelec Resolution 9149. The Constitution requires running district representatives to be registered voter of the district the candidate intends to represent. Commission on Election Sixto Brillantes said Muhlach may be disqualified to run as a Congressman in Camarines Sur’s Fourth District if the court decided that his voter’s registration was void. “You have to be a registered voter to be a candidate… If the denial of his registration becomes final then we will disqualify him,” Brillantes was quoted as saying on GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation” report aired on Friday. Asked if Muhlach’s situation can be remedied, Brillantes said, “The rule says that in registration, RTC’s [decision] is final but he can still go up in certiorari in higher courts. Well, final na kung hindi siya makakuha ng TRO [temporary restraining order].” Muhlach is running against Felix William “Wimpy” Fuentebella, son of incumbent Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella and a member of an established political family in the province. For his part, Atty. Romulo Macalintal, Muhlach’s legal counsel, noted that they will appeal the RTC’s ruling before the Court of Appeals. “Tuloy ho ang laban ni Aga Muhlach. Wala pong katotohanan ang balita na siya ay magwi-withdraw sapagkat  ang desisyon pong ito ay walang katuturan as far as we are concerned.  Ang desisyong ito ay hindi pa pinal sapagkat anumang desisyon ng  trial court ay maaaring iapela sa Court of Appeals,” Macalintal told Kara David in the same television report. “Bago mag-eleksyon ay hindi pa tapos ‘yan. Kaya’t hanggang hindi pa final and executory ang nasabing desisyon  tuloy ang kandidatura ni Aga Muhlach,” he added. — Rouchelle R. Dinlasan /LBG, GMA News