The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Second Division has nullified the proclamation of Luis "Joey" Chua Uy as the congressman of Manila's 6th District and instead declared Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. as the duly elected representative in the May 12, 2025 midterm elections.
This decision comes after Abante filed a petition seeking the cancellation of Uy's Certificate of Candidacy (COC), questioning the latter's eligibility to run for Congress due to issues regarding his citizenship.
In its 22-page ruling promulgated on Wednesday and released to the media on Thursday, the COMELEC Second Division ruled in favor of Abante, stating that Uy is not a natural-born Filipino, a constitutional requirement for members of the House of Representatives.
"Wherefore, premises considered, the petition is granted. The proclamation of respondent Luis 'Joey' Chua Uy is hereby annulled," the ruling read.
The poll body determined that Uy was a naturalized citizen and not a natural-born Filipino.
"In this case, upon his birth on 15 March 1962, Respondent's father was a Chinese citizen who became a naturalized Filipino on 28 August 1967,” the ruling stated.
The decision also highlighted that Uy's mother, although a Filipino before marriage, "was married to Respondent's father, a Chinese national, in January 1944." As both parents were considered non-Filipino citizens at the time of his birth, the poll body said, "This precludes the respondent from being considered a natural-born Filipino."
"Since natural-born citizenship requires that the individual be a citizen of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect such citizenship, Respondent cannot validly claim natural-born status," the ruling emphasized.
Uy, in his COC, declared that he is a natural-born Filipino citizen. However, the poll body found this to be a "material misrepresentation."
"His Identification Certificate which recognized Respondent as a citizen of the Philippines solely by virtue of being the legitimate son of Uy Ho, a naturalized Filipino citizen... confirms that Respondent's citizenship was not acquired by birthright but derived from the naturalization of his father," the ruling stated.
The Second Division concluded that Uy committed a "false declaration" in his COC and is thus not qualified to run for Congress.
"His misrepresentation pertains to a fundamental qualification under the Constitution," the ruling added. "As such, he is not qualified to run for or hold the position of Member of the House of Representatives, and his proclamation was thus made in violation of the Constitution."
Despite Uy receiving 64,746 votes, which was more than Abante's 63,358, the poll body declared Abante as the legitimate winner.
"The only qualified candidate who garnered the highest number of votes is hereby declared as the duly elected Member of the House of Representatives for the Sixth (6th) District of the City of Manila," the COMELEC said.
COMELEC Chairperson George Erwin Garcia clarified, however, that Uy may still appeal the decision before the COMELEC en banc.
"Until there is a final decision, the one who is proclaimed will sit (in Congress)," Garcia said in a media interview.
As of this writing, Uy has not yet publicly commented on the ruling.
