Roberto ‘Pinpin’ Uy, Jr. takes oath as Zamboanga del Norte’s 1st District Representative

MORE than a year after the 2022 elections, Roberto ‘Pinpin’ Uy, Jr. finally took oath as the representative of the First District of Zamboanga del Norte in Monday’s Plenary Session officiated by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

This significant development comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling affirming Uy’s status as the rightful winner of the 2022 elections, a proclamation further validated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) last Friday.

Expressing his gratitude to the Comelec for their impartial and diligent oversight of the election process, Uy remarked, “I am honored by this proclamation and the trust that the people of the 1st District of Zamboanga del Norte have placed in me. I am committed to working tirelessly to bring back the old glory of our beloved province.”

He added, “Together, we will address the challenges our community faces and work towards a brighter future for all.”

Uy secured victory in the May 2022 elections with 69,591 votes, closely followed by Romeo Jalosjos, Jr. (R. Jalosjos) with 69,109 votes. Other candidates Frederico Jalosjos (F. Jalosjos) and Richard Amazon received 5,424 and 288 votes, respectively.

The legal dispute stemmed from the Provincial Board of Canvassers’ decision to declare R. Jalosjos as the winning candidate, attributing the votes of F. Jalosjos, initially declared a nuisance candidate, to him.

The Supreme Court ruled that the suspension order was based on bare allegations, effectively declaring F. Jalosjos not a nuisance candidate.

This pivotal decision led to the rightful proclamation of Uy as the district’s representative.

A former mayor of Polanco, Uy brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having spearheaded municipal development projects in the areas of livelihoods, education, sports, and infrastructure during his term. His commitment to public service and community development positions him as a dedicated representative for the people of Zamboanga del Norte.