Comelec Division declares Benny Abante as winner of Manila’s 6th district

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has declared Bienvenido “Benny” Abante as the duly elected Representative of the 6th District of Manila in Eleksyon 2025. 

This came after the poll body’s division voided the certificate of candidacy of Luis “Joey” Chua Uy after Abante filed a petition against him over questions about his Filipino citizenship. 

In Abante's petition, he alleged that Uy "could not have derived the status of a natural-born citizen because his father did not have such status at the time of Respondent's birth."

Depsite Uy saying, "That he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines and declared the same in his Certificate of Candidacy [" COC"]," the Comelec Second Division decision ruled that "he is at most a naturalized citizen, not a natural-born one."

In its 22-page ruling, the poll body stated that Uy was considered as a non-candidate and his certificate of candidacy was void ab initio. 

“Accordingly, the votes cast in his favor are considered stray and should have not been counted,” the ruling said. 

“Respondent’s proclamation should thus be annulled leaving petitioner the only qualified candidate who obtained the highest number of votes for the position of member, House of Representatives in the 6th District of the City of Manila,” it added.

Abante, meanwhile, said that the Comelec decision adheres to the rule of law.

“This is a victory not just for me and the voters of Manila’s sixth district—but for the Constitution, and the rule of law. The Constitution is clear—only natural-born Filipino citizens are qualified to serve in Congress,” Abante, who chairs the House Committee on Human Rights, said in a statement.

“Our people deserve leaders whose allegiance to the country is beyond question, and whose qualifications are beyond doubt,” Abante added. 

Section 6, Article 6 of the 1987 Constitution provides that “No person shall be a member of the House of Representatives unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines.”

“This is not about personalities—this is about the rule of law. The Constitution must prevail. Our democracy depends on it.” Abante said.

Not yet final

Comelec Chairman George Garcia, however, said that Abante will not be proclaimed as representative of the 6th District of Manila pending the finality of the decision. 

He clarified that the Comelec Second Division decision that voided Uy's COC is not yet final and executory as the respondent still has five days to challenge the ruling.

“Kahit na anulled ang kaniyang proclamation kung hindi pa final and executory ang decision ay maaring may effect pa ang proclamation hanggat wala pang finality ang decision na binabalewala ang naturang proclamation,” Garcia told reporters. 

(Even if his proclamation is annulled, it will still have an effect as long as our decision is not yet final and executory.)

“Ang laging titingnan ay kapag may in-issue ang Comelec na certificate of finality and entry of judgment. ‘Yun ay nagpapatunay na ang decision namin ay executory na at final,” he added. 

(We will issue a certificate of finality and entry of judgment on the case.)

—with reports from Llanesca T. Panti/ VAL, GMA Integrated News

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