SC upholds proclamation of Lanao del Norte solon

The Supreme Court has upheld the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaiming Vicente Belmonte as representative of the first district of Lanao del Norte province. At the same time, the high court advised Belmonte’s defeated rival, Imelda Dimaporo to pursue her case before the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET). “Such proclamation is valid and, as such, it has vested the HRET with jurisdiction as Belmonte, with the taking his oath, already become one of their own," said Justice Ruben Reyes, in his 12-page resolution that was concurred in by all justices of the Supreme Court. “Hence, should Dimaporo wish to pursue further her claim to the congressional seat, the filing of an election protest before the HRET would be the appropriate course of action," the ruling added. Dimaporo ranked third in last year’s congressional race with 35,150 votes, next only to second placer Angelique Dawn Badelles, who obtained 39,315. Belmonte won by a wide margin, 52,783 votes from the district’s seven towns. In its ruling, the high court said the Comelec was “not amiss" in “quickly deciding" Belmonte’s case. “It has always been the policy of the election law that pre-proclamation controversies should be summarily decided, consistent with the law’s desire that the proclamation be delayed as little as possible," it said. - GMANews.TV