BIÑAN CITY, Laguna: Michael Gerard Thomas Ponce Yatco, a congressional candidate for Biñan City's lone district, has disputed rumors circulating in the city that he had been disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from the May 2022 polls. On Jan. 26, 2022, the Comelec's First Division approved a petition to cancel Yatco's certificate of candidacy (CoC). According to a resolution, Yatco is not a bonafide resident of Biñan City as shown in his filed CoC. On Jan. 31, 2022, a motion for reconsideration was filed by Yatco before the Comelec en banc to stop the implementation of the First Division's order. In a news conference, he said the people of Biñan City are now confused as to whether he is still a congressional candidate. Yatco insisted that Comelec's decision is not yet final and executory and that he still has an option to consult the Supreme Court, if and when the need arises. He said the Comelec's First Division might have missed that he has a certificate of registration issued by the poll body on Sept. 2, 2021, a month before he filed his CoC on Oct. 6, 2021. Yatco noted that the Comelec has his name printed on the ballot. He said James Jimenez, Comelec spokesman, himself said he can still appeal the disqualification and, unless a final decision is issued, he is still a candidate.
