Taguig court rules Lino Cayetano ineligible to vote in district he seeks to represent

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Lino Cayetano clarifies that this court case is separate from the disqualification case pending before the Commission on Elections

MANILA, Philippines – The Taguig Regional Trial Court ruled on Thursday, March 6, that former Taguig City mayor Lino Cayetano and his wife, volleyball player Fille Cainglet, are not registered voters of Barangay Ususan in the Taguig-Pateros District, where he is running for congressman.

The court ordered Taguig’s Commission on Elections (Comelec) Election Registration Board to exclude the Cayetano couple from the official list of voters in Precinct No. 0926A, Barangay Ususan, for failing to fulfill the residency requirement. The decision overturned the Taguig Metropolitan Trial Court’s February 17 ruling in favor of Cayetano.

Election rules stipulate that a person must have lived in a place for at least six months prior to transferring their voter registration to that location. Meanwhile, a district representative must be a registered voter and a resident of the district for at least one year before the election.

“This decision is immediately final and executory. No motion for reconsideration shall be entertained,” the decision reads. Cayetano, however, said in a statement that they will be filing to appeal the decision.

In a Facebook video, Cayetano also clarified that this court case is separate from the disqualification case pending before the Comelec. Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia earlier told Rappler that Cayetano’s disqualification case is still pending.

Cayetano said that issues surrounding his residency, along with other personal attacks, have been weaponized against him to spread lies and propaganda.

“Nanatili kaming matatag sa aming paniniwala na sa huli, ang demokrasya ang magwawagi. Gagamitin namin ang aming karapatang i-apela ang desisyong ito, nang may buong kumpiyansa na ang katotohanan ay lalabas at ang hustisya ay makakamit,” Cayetano said.

(We remain steadfast in our belief that in the end, democracy will prevail. We will exercise our right to appeal this decision with full confidence that the truth will emerge and justice will be served.)

Cayetano said that those spreading negative propaganda against him fear a “strong, independent voice” speaking out on issues in the municipality of Pateros and Taguig City.

Residency questions have hounded Cayetano since October 2024, a few weeks after the filing of certificates of candidacy, when the Comelec’s registration board rejected his bid to transfer voter registration from the second to the first district. The rejection stemmed from a petition questioning the legitimacy of his move, filed by a city hall employee.

Cayetano said that he and his wife have had a house in Barangay Ususan in the first district since 2019, when he served as city mayor.

Cayetano is the brother of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and reelectionist Senator Pia Cayetano. However, his congressional bid has exposed a rift within the Cayetano clan of Taguig. Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, Alan’s wife, did not endorse her brother-in-law’s campaign.

In a separate event, Senator Alan Cayetano was seen raising the hand of Lino’s political rival, reelectionist Taguig District 1 Representative Ricardo “Ading” Cruz, in an act of endorsement.

While initially considering a run for mayor, Cayetano stepped aside for his sister-in-law’s candidacy, opting instead for the congressional race. Despite not receiving Lani’s endorsement, Lino said that he still supports her bid for reelection.

– Rappler.com