The Commission on Elections
Second Division dismissed a disqualification case filed against Muhlach
arising from his alleged failure to meet a one-year residency
requirement in Camarines Sur.
The actor has also earlier won
against moves to remove him from the voters' list in Camarines Sur over
questions in his citizenship.
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The actor is running for Camarines Sur representative under the administration coalition.
Muhlach "has been able to adduce substantial evidence to demonstrate
compliance with the one-year residency under the law," the actor's
lawyer quoted the Comelec Resolution as saying.
Lawyer Romulo Macalintal added that the decision was based on Comelec's
evaluation which has established Muhlach's ancestral roots as well as
physical presence in the province.
Muhlach purchased a property in San Jose, Camarines Sur in April 2011, Macalintal said.
The actor has also transferred his address and business address,
"indicative of his intention to make San Jose, Camarines Sur as his
domicile," the lawyer quoted Comelec as saying.
No evidence has also been presented to prove Muhlach's intention to
"commit the alleged false representation to deceive" in his certificate
of candidacy, Comelec said.
"[T]he law does not speak that a person has to be in his home 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in order to fulfill the residency requirement," Macalintal quoted Comelec as saying.