SC ruling proves Comelec’s resolve to safeguard people’s will
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday took as a testament its fidelity in safeguarding the will of the people in all electoral exercises, the decision of the Supreme Court to dismiss the disqualifications against incoming President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.
While they have yet to receive a copy of the decision, Comelec Spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco said they welcomed the rulings which affirmed the poll body’s earlier decision on the same petitions.
“We have yet to receive a copy of the decision. Nonetheless po, if this is indeed an affirmation by the Highest Court of the decision of the COMELEC, then it is a testament to the commitment of this Commission to the rule of law and it’s faithfulness to our Constitutional mandate, more so, its fidelity in safeguarding the will of the people in all electoral exercises. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” he said in a Viber message.
On Tuesday, the high tribunal unanimously voted for the dismissal of the petitions for disqualification and cancellation of Marcos Jr.’s certificate of candidacy.
The decision was penned by Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda.
Two justices — Antonio Co and Henri Jean Paul Inting — took no part in the deliberation.
Kho was a former commissioner of the Comelec while Inting is the brother of the current acting chairman of the Comelec.
There were two petitions filed before the SC – one for disqualification and another for the cancellation of Marcos’ COC.
The petition filed by Fr. Christian Buenafe, Fides Lim, Ma. Edeliza Hernandez, Celia Lagman Sevilla, Roland Vibal, and Josephine Lascano – aside from asking the SC to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) to “enjoin and restrain” both houses of Congress from canvassing the votes of Marcos and proclaiming him as president” also assailed the January 17and May 10 resolutions of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) dismissing for lack of merit their plea seeking the denial or cancellation of the COC of Marcos Jr. as well as their motion for reconsideration.
The other petition was filed by a group of martial law survivors led by Satur Ocampo and Bonifacio Ilagan, who also asked the SC to overturn the Comelec’s decision junking their disqualification case against Marcos.
Both petitions stemmed from Marcos’s 1995 tax case where he was sentenced to serve a total of seven years in prison and to pay a fine for violation of the National Internal Revenue Code.
In 1997, the Court of Appeals upheld the conviction but modified the penalty imposed by the lower court by removing the prison term and merely imposing a fine.
