Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division has directed its Law Department to carry out an investigation into Lino Edgardo Cayetano, a defeated congressional candidate from Taguig, for a potential violation of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).

According to Philippines News Agency, the investigation arises from a resolution promulgated on June 18, 2025, and released to the media on Tuesday. Although the petition to cancel Cayetano's certificate of candidacy (COC) was declared "moot and academic" following his election defeat, the resolution emphasized that this does not eliminate the criminal liability related to alleged false statements made in his COC. The resolution further cited the Supreme Court case of Lanot v. Comelec, highlighting the independent nature of criminal and electoral aspects in disqualification cases.

The Comelec division has thus passed the case records to the Law Department to conduct a preliminary investigation for potential election law violations. If the investigation proceeds, it could lead to a criminal case against Cayetano, who is also a former mayor of Taguig. The allegations involve material misrepresentation under Section 78 of the OEC, a charge that carries penalties including imprisonment, disqualification from public office, and loss of voting rights.

The case originates from a complaint challenging the legitimacy of Cayetano's declared residence in Pacific Residences, Barangay Ususan, Taguig City. He had transferred his voter registration to Ususan in Taguig's First District on September 28, 2024, just five days before filing his candidacy for the district's congressional seat. However, evidence presented during hearings at the Election Registration Board and the Taguig Regional Trial Court suggested that Cayetano continued to reside in Bonifacio Global City, which falls within the second district.