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Advocates Philippines
Comelec En Banc Declares Benny Abante As Duly Elected Manila 6th District Representative; Annuls Joey Uy's Proclamation
Photo credit: Benny Abante
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has officially resolved to proclaim Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. as the duly elected representative of the 6th District of Manila, following a decisive ruling that disqualified his opponent, Luis “Joey” Chua Uy, on the grounds of citizenship.
This resolution came after the Comelec en banc denied the Motion for Reconsideration filed by Uy, effectively upholding the Second Division’s June 18, 2025 decision, which annulled his earlier proclamation as the winning candidate. At the core of the decision was Uy’s failure to meet a fundamental constitutional requirement: being a natural-born Filipino citizen.
According to the Commission, Uy is, at most, a naturalized citizen, having acquired his Philippine citizenship through a legal process rather than by birth. The distinction, while seemingly technical, holds significant legal weight. As the Constitution mandates, only natural-born Filipino citizens may run for and hold elective public office such as a seat in the House of Representatives.
Uy’s attempt to challenge the ruling leaned heavily on procedural objections and concerns over the evidentiary value of certain documents, including Identification Certificates issued by the Bureau of Immigration. However, the Commission noted that despite Uy’s criticisms of the documents' admissibility, he never explicitly disputed their contents. This, the Commission argued, constituted an implied admission that the certificates—indicating his need to apply for Filipino citizenship—were authentic and valid.
The Commission emphasized that a natural-born citizen would not have needed to secure such documents in the first place. The issuance of an Identification Certificate, the ruling explained, involves a formal process and documentary requirements, all pointing to the conclusion that Uy had to undertake acts to perfect his citizenship—actions unnecessary for those born with Filipino citizenship status.
In light of these findings, the Comelec En Banc affirmed that Uy was not legally qualified to run in the 2025 elections and declared his proclamation void. The Board of Canvassers of the City of Manila has been ordered to reconvene and formally proclaim Abante as the duly elected representative.
With this ruling, Benny Abante—former House Minority Leader and a long-serving public servant—reclaims the mandate to represent Manila’s 6th District. His assumption of office marks a return to familiar ground, with a renewed emphasis on lawful, accountable governance.
This resolution came after the Comelec en banc denied the Motion for Reconsideration filed by Uy, effectively upholding the Second Division’s June 18, 2025 decision, which annulled his earlier proclamation as the winning candidate. At the core of the decision was Uy’s failure to meet a fundamental constitutional requirement: being a natural-born Filipino citizen.
According to the Commission, Uy is, at most, a naturalized citizen, having acquired his Philippine citizenship through a legal process rather than by birth. The distinction, while seemingly technical, holds significant legal weight. As the Constitution mandates, only natural-born Filipino citizens may run for and hold elective public office such as a seat in the House of Representatives.
Uy’s attempt to challenge the ruling leaned heavily on procedural objections and concerns over the evidentiary value of certain documents, including Identification Certificates issued by the Bureau of Immigration. However, the Commission noted that despite Uy’s criticisms of the documents' admissibility, he never explicitly disputed their contents. This, the Commission argued, constituted an implied admission that the certificates—indicating his need to apply for Filipino citizenship—were authentic and valid.
The Commission emphasized that a natural-born citizen would not have needed to secure such documents in the first place. The issuance of an Identification Certificate, the ruling explained, involves a formal process and documentary requirements, all pointing to the conclusion that Uy had to undertake acts to perfect his citizenship—actions unnecessary for those born with Filipino citizenship status.
In light of these findings, the Comelec En Banc affirmed that Uy was not legally qualified to run in the 2025 elections and declared his proclamation void. The Board of Canvassers of the City of Manila has been ordered to reconvene and formally proclaim Abante as the duly elected representative.
With this ruling, Benny Abante—former House Minority Leader and a long-serving public servant—reclaims the mandate to represent Manila’s 6th District. His assumption of office marks a return to familiar ground, with a renewed emphasis on lawful, accountable governance.
Jun 30, 2025
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