Despite separate residences, Cayetanos confident congressional bids will get court nod

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano maintained that he and his wife, Taguig City mayor Lani Cayetano, are legally eligible to run for congressional seat as the city’s first and second representative, respectively, amid a pending disqualification case against them stemming from their separate domicile.

Cayetano, a lawyer, was referring to the petition filed by Leonidas Buac, Jr. which argued that the couple failed to meet the residency requirement since the Family Code requires a married couple to live in one legal residence.

He argued that Supreme Court decisions have already stated that Family Code is not applicable to election laws.

“We are very confident that it will be dismissed. The law is on our side.  This is not a legal issue. Supreme Court na mismo ang nagsabi, hindi applicable ang Family Code sa election law. Under election law, basta maipakita mo na domicile mo ‘yun,” Cayetano told reporters.

Cayetano said his situation is not unique.

“Maraming ganung sitwasyon sa Pilipinas na ang mag-asawang lalaki at babae eh magkahiwalay ng rehistro. Meron mga mayors na ganyan,” Cayetano said.

“Even si [former US] President [Bill] Clinton, registered sa Arkansas, naging governor siya roon bago naging Presidente, pero ‘yung asawa niya [na si Hillary], naging Senador ng New York. This is not a legal issue that is why we are confident na makikita ito ng Comelec (Commission on Elections),” Cayetano added. —LDF, GMA News