Laguna representative to appeal HRET decision unseating him

MANILA, Philippines - Laguna Rep. Danilo Ramon Fernandez, a former actor, on Wednesday said he would appeal the decision of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) to unseat him for failing to comply with residency requirements. In an interview with GMANews.TV, Fernandez said the HRET voted 7-2 on Tuesday in favor of the petition filed by Jesus Vicente, a resident of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, questioning Fernandez's residency. Fernandez, a 42-year-old optometrist, won his first term as representative of the 1st congressional district of Laguna in the 2007 elections with 35,000 votes more than his opponent Neric Joaquin, the son of former Laguna Rep. Uliran Joaquin. Before that, Fernandez served as board member and vice governor of the province. Under the Constitution, a candidate for a congressional seat must have been a resident of his district for not less than one year before election day. Maintaining that he has been a resident of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, for "two to three years," Fernandez said he was going to challenge the HRET decision on Monday. "It's a long process pa naman. Perhaps makikita nila merit ng case natin (It's still a long process. Perhaps they will see the merits of our case)," Ramos said. Fernandez has 10 days to file his motion for reconsideration. The two HRET members who sided with Fernandez were Laguna Rep. Justin Mark Chipeco and Supreme Court Associate Justice Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez. Voting in favor of the petition against Fernandez were Justices Consuelo Ynares-Santiago and Conchita Carpio- Morales, Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan, Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, Bohol Rep. Roberto Cajes, Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao, and Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores. – GMANews.TV