Benny Abante has been officially declared the elected representative of Manila’s 6th District for the 2025 elections, following a proclamation by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday.
The proclamation, held in Ermita, came after Comelec’s en banc issued a certificate of finality on the disqualification of previous winner Joey Chua. The court’s decision voided Chua’s certificate of candidacy, allowing Abante to be legally recognized as the district’s congressman.
The certificate of finality became binding after the Supreme Court did not issue a temporary restraining order within the required five-day period. As a result, the Comelec’s June 30 ruling declaring Abante as the rightful winner is now executory.
On social media, Abante expressed his gratitude to Comelec and urged his constituents to move forward in unity.
“Public service must rise above politics,” Abante wrote. “It’s time to focus on the people, meet their needs, and work together to deliver justice, opportunities, and essential services.”