story 2: veterans at a standstill (broadcast)

Two members of the Veterans Freedom Party, or VFP, are claiming their lone party-list seat.

The seat was vacated with the passing of VFP representative Ernesto Gidaya on December 4.

The two VFP members are Estrella Santos and Rodolfo Gutang. Both were party-list nominees in the 2004 elections.

Santos is the next nominee in VFP’s list. She is qualified to take Gidaya’s place under Republic Act 7941. The said act automatically designates the next nominee to fill any vacancy in the party list.

But Gutang says the Commission on Elections, or Comelec, "cannot proclaim Santos automatically.” He says he should be the next VFP representative.

According to a VFP resolution approved in 2004 a nonveteran cannot be the party’s lone representative. The resolution also states that a nonveteran “who would have qualified is considered resigned or should resign his position.”

Santos is a nonveteran, while Gutang is a retired constabulary general.

The VFP seat remains vacant pending a decision by the Comelec.