The House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal has ordered Malabon-Navotas Rep. Alvin Sandoval unseated as a member of the Lower House after declaring his rival winner in the 2007 congressional race following a recount of the ballots cast.

In a 65-page decision, the nine-man joint judicial-legislative body declared Josephine Veronique Lacson winner by 645 votes after a re-canvassing of the votes was conducted.

Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan, head of the House contingent in the panel, said the decision was promulgated Thursday. He said he expects Sandoval to file a motion for reconsideration.

“Congressman Sandoval should present new arguments in order to convince us to consider his petition,” Domogan said.

Lacson is the wife of An Waray Rep. Florencio “Bem” Noel. Her entry as member of the Lower House will make the Noels the second husband-and-wife member of the chamber.

Cotabato Rep. Lala Talino-Mendoza and her husband, Raymond Democrito Mendoza, were the first couple to become House members in the same Congress.

The HRET decision came in the wake of reports that Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez will be removed as member of the chamber next week.

Fernandez also lost an election case filed before the HRET which ruled last December that he was ineligible to represent the First District of Laguna due to lack of residency.

Unlike the Malabon-Navotas district, Fernandez’s district will be without a congressman in the remainder of the session of the 14th Congress.

Speaker Prospero Nograles said the HRET writ of execution on the Fernandez decision will be enforced next week.