Manila, Philippines– A rehash of an old issue — that was how San Juan Representative candidate and actor Edu Manzano described the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) decision to cancel his candidacy.
A ruling, released by the poll body’s second division on Monday, stated: “Manzano’s COC must be denied due course and/or canceled because he committed false misrepresentation of his citizenship.”
The COMELEC also noted on its decision the time when Manzano served in the United States Armed Forces.
Responding to a netizen’s question on Instagram, Manzano said “Hindi totoo yan. 2nd division palang yan. May en banc pa. Ginawa na sa akin yan noong 1998 and nanalo ako sa SC.”
The actor added that the Supreme Court allowed him to run as Makati Vice Mayor and people can look into the 1998 Mercado VS Manzano decision.
In that decision, then Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado filed a petition questioning the citizenship of Manzano, his opponent. Manzano won the election but his proclamation was deferred until the decision was rendered.
Manzano later run for mayor of Makati in 2001, as vice president in 2010, and as senator in 2016.
Manzano is running under the Estrada ticket in San Juan where incumbent Vice Mayor Janella Estrada is running.
