MANILA - The House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) stood by its December 14, 2015 resolution upholding a case against Marinduque Rep. Regina Ongsiako Reyes' qualification for public office.

The Gabriela Women's Party on Wednesday welcomed the HRET's decision upholding its resolution granting the motion for reconsideration filed by a certain Victor Vela Sioco, who asked that the tribunal decide against Reyes in the quo warranto case lodged against her.

"We hope this decision clears all doubt on the validity of the decision made last December 14 as well as any misconception on the legitimacy of the vote rendered by Gabriela Women's Party (GWP) Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan on the aforementioned petition against Ongsiako-Reyes," said Gabriela Women's Party counsel Minerva Lopez.

Reyes' qualification for public office had been challenged because of her alleged US citizenship.

Reyes' camp has maintained that it's the HRET, and not the Supreme Court (SC), who shall be the sole judge in this case since this involves the qualification of a candidate for public office.

In a previous statement, the women's party-list group reiterated that Ilagan remains its national president and a member of the House of Representatives.

Lopez further explained that the party-list law cited in Reyes' petition that sought to nullify the tribunal's December 14 decision does not apply to Ilagan's case.

"There is no 'ipso facto resignation' under the Party-List Law. Rep. Ilagan did not relinquish her seat as representative of the GWP after formally expressing her intent to run for councilor in Davao City," the group said.

Atty. Harry Roque, in representing Reyes, earlier claimed Ilagan was deemed resigned from her post after she filed her certificate of candidacy for a local position in Davao City.

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Meanwhile, House Speaker Sonny Belmonte maintained that the Lower House has not filed an appeal of the high court's order for the assumption of former Marinduque Congressman Lord Allan Jay Velasco as congressional representative instead of Reyes.

"Definitely no. Atty. [Theodore] Te acknowledged the mistake," he said.

Belmonte made the clarification amid reports the SC junked the appeal of the Lower House.

The SC ordered Velasco sworn in. Velasco is the son of SC Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr.

Belmonte has previously said he is having the case of Reyes studied and will make a decision soon.

Belmonte's decision may possibly lead to a change in Marinduque's congressional representative with less than six months to go in the term of the 16th Congress.