Comelec says parties should not make public statements on pending election cases

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday that parties with pending cases before the poll body should not speak about the case before the public, saying these statements are muddying the issue, if not pressuring Comelec.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said petitioners and respondents should remember to respect the rule of pendente lite (case in litigation).

"The past few weeks, there have been a lot of statements, left and right, all trying to pressure the Comelec into deciding one way or the other. We like to appeal to anyone with any sort of pending action before the Comelec, to please respect the rule of pendente lite," Jimenez said.

"Refrain from speaking about the case, let the pleadings (court filings) do the talking for you," Jimenez added.

Jimenez then said that as it is, sobriety in the process is absent and it has become a chase for a sound bite and speculations.

"If you look at the papers, that is all you see. It is muddying the waters. It happens in all cases," Jimenez said.

Jimenez did not specify a case but there are at least six bids seeking to cancel the certificate of candidacy or disqualify former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.

Likewise, the poll body is yet to decide on the application for accreditation of at least 13 party-list groups.

Members and supporters of the group Nurses United, whose accreditation as a party-list group has been denied by Comelec, have protested before the poll body's main office on Monday.

Jimenez, however, said that aggrieved parties have the option of a legal remedy.

"Protesting in the streets is not a legal remedy. If they feel aggrieved, there is legal remedy," Jimenez said.

"Ultimately, they should be able to prove that the majority of their members are legitimate nurses and tell it to the Commission [on Elections]," Jimenez added. — BM, GMA News