The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will keep the name of former Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano on the list of candidates for Taguig-Pateros representative in the midterm elections.

In a message to reporters on Thursday, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia explained that Cayetano’s inclusion is due to the fact that his election case regarding his residency has not been finally decided.

Earlier, a Taguig court affirmed Cayetano’s residency in the 1st district of Taguig-Pateros. The court likewise affirmed the residency of his wife, Fille.

In a statement, the director-turned-politician welcomed the decision of the court.

“This verdict not only upholds our constitutional right to vote but also the fundamental principle that every citizen has the freedom to choose their residence,” Cayetano said.

“This victory is not only for us but also for every voter who has the right to participate in the democratic process without being questioned or denied,” he added.

Cayetano is running for congressman of the 1st district of Taguig-Pateros in the midterm polls.

He is challenging incumbent Rep. Ricardo “Ading” Cruz Jr., the candidate endorsed by his brother, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, and sister-in-law, Mayor Lani Cayetano.