Uy Appeals Election Ruling, Challenging Citizenship

Manila Congressional Seat in Legal Dispute

A legal battle is unfolding in Manila, with the fate of a congressional seat hanging in the balance. Joey Uy, the Representative-elect, is appealing a recent decision that could overturn his victory in the May 2025 elections. The core issue: whether Uy is constitutionally eligible to hold office.

Comelec Decision and the Appeal

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) initially nullified Uy’s proclamation. The poll body sided with Bienvenido Abante, the second-place candidate, concluding Uy was not a natural-born Filipino. This status is a critical requirement for congressional posts.

Uy, however, filed a motion for reconsideration, insisting on his Filipino identity. He claims his “personal history consistently affirms his genuine Filipino identity.” His lawyer, Edward Gialogo, contests the evidence, arguing it’s uncertified and improperly obtained.

“The Comelec 2nd Division relied on identification certificates that were not only uncertified and anonymously sourced but also unlawfully obtained, containing confidential and sensitive personal information whose authenticity remains highly questionable,”

— from Joey Uy’s motion for reconsideration

According to the 1935 Constitution, citizenship is defined by the father’s status. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority reveals a rise in dual-citizen families in recent years (Philippine Statistics Authority 2024).

Arguments and Legal Framework

Abante’s argument hinges on Uy’s birth in 1962 to a Chinese father and a Filipino mother. He claims Uy was only a naturalized Filipino. Uy’s motion counters with several points, including that marriage to a foreigner doesn’t void Filipino citizenship.

Gialogo also argues that the deadline to file a petition to cancel a Certificate of Candidacy (COC) due to misrepresentation had already passed. The COC filing period was in October 2024, while Abante’s petition was filed in May.

If Uy loses at the Comelec en banc, he can still bring a final appeal before the Supreme Court.