WITH BARELY a week before the elections, an ousted lawmaker has received his due in court, with the Supreme Court validating his victory three years ago.
Ousted lawmaker Harlin Abayon is the 鈥渓awfully elected representative of the first district of Northern Samar鈥� in the 2013 elections, the high court ruled on Tuesday in a special en banc session.
The court said the ruling was 鈥渋mmediately executory.鈥�
The ruling came just six days before the new election cycle and with Congress on recess.
Abayon is listed on the official House of Representatives鈥� website as 鈥渦nseated.鈥�
The court鈥檚 decision overturned the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal鈥檚 (HRET) ruling in February favoring former House Deputy Speaker Raul Daza鈥檚 plea against Abayon鈥檚 2013 win.
It granted Abayon鈥檚 plea that the HRET had committed grave abuse of discretion for removing him from the roster of legislators despite the alleged lack of evidence.