TACLOBAN, Philippines – A man presently on trial for murder has entered the political arena, filing his candidacy for congressman in Leyte on Thursday, October 3.
Emmanuel “Weng-Weng” Veloso, brother of San Isidro Mayor Remegio Veloso, has formally entered the political stage despite facing serious legal challenges.
Veloso’s certificate of candidacy (COC) for the congressional seat in the 3rd District of Leyte was submitted at 1:35 pm at the Leyte Provincial Comelec Office in Tacloban City. He was represented by his lawyer and nephew, Rem Veloso, who filed the documents on his behalf.
Emmanuel, who is presently detained at a prison facility in Payatas, Quezon City is embroiled in a murder case stemming from the 2019 killing of Levi Aporbo Mabini, San Isidro municipal administrator in their town.
He was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on July 29, 2024, following the issuance of a warrant by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 5 in Quezon City.
In a phone interview on Thursday, NBI-Eastern Visayas Assistant Regional Director Edwin Romano confirmed the ongoing trial and Veloso’s continued detention, but the candidate’s legal troubles have not deterred him from pursuing a seat in the House of Representatives. – Rappler.com