The Commission on Elections Election Registration Board (Comelec-ERB) in Taguig City has dismissed the application of former Taguig City Congressman and Mayor Lino Cayetano, and his wife Fille Cayetano, to transfer their voter registration records to the congressional district of Taguig-Pateros or District 1.
According to the Comelec-ERB, the Cayetano couple failed to comply with the residency requirement due to discrepancies in their passports.
In the 24-page decision of the Comelec-ERB, it stated that the couple applied to transfer their voter registration last month, indicating they had lived at Pacific Residences in Barangay Ususan for two years and five months.
However, in the documents they submitted, including their passports, Fille's passport was issued in November 2018, while Lino's was issued in October 2021.
"Both documents were issued well in advance of their purported transfer to Pacific Residence in 2022. As a result, the passports fail to substantiate their assertion of their current address. At best, the passports serve to establish their identity rather than their residential address," according to a statement in the Comelec-ERB decision.
The Comelec-ERB also stated that the Cayetanos did not submit additional identification documents showing their personal details and address to support their application.
The Board maintains that an individual residing in a particular locality for a period exceeding two years should be capable of procuring and furnishing an alternative identification document to substantiate their address," according to the Comelec-ERB.
The utility bill and security logbook submitted by the Cayetano couple only covered up to October 2024 and lacked proof that they had been living at the stated address for a long time.
Meanwhile, according to officials of Barangay Ususan, there is no record of Lino Cayetano living in the area, while an official of Barangay Fort Bonifacio claimed the Cayetano couple resides in their area.
The Comelec-ERB also questioned the incorrect address listed in the voter's transfer of records application because instead of Almond Street, Accord Street was listed.
The Board contends that if the Applicants had truly resided at Pacific Residences for over two years, they would have no difficulty distinguishing between Almond Street and Accord Street. Given their long-term familiarity with the area, it is improbable they would struggle to provide their address accurately. Their inability to do so raises doubts about their claims of residency," the Comelec-ERB stated.
The Comelec-ERB also criticized the applicants' voting in Barangay Fort Bonifacio in the past Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections and their continuous renting of a condominium unit in Bonifacio Global City.
"It is crucial to emphasize that an individual can hold only one residence or domicile at any given time. For the Applicants, this clearly appears to be Barangay Fort Bonifacio," the Comelec-ERB added.
Lino Cayetano has announced that he will appeal this decision by the Comelec - ERB.
"I have every right to transfer our registration to the First District of Taguig and Pateros. Our family is from the First District of Taguig and Pateros. My father grew up in Pateros and all of us siblings were registered voters of District 1. Fille and I have had a house in Ususan since 2019 when I was Mayor of Taguig City," according to Cayetano's official statement.
Cayetano added in his public post on Facebook that he will not stop fighting, even if it reaches the Supreme Court.
Lino Cayetano is running for Congress in District 1 of Taguig City, where his main opponent is current Congressman Ricardo "Ading" Cruz, who is supported by Cayetano's sister-in-law, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano.
