'PLEASE SHUT UP'

Guanzon urges lawyers in pending poll cases to stop talking to the media

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon on Monday asked those who have filed cases against aspirants in the 2022 elections to “please shut up” and not talk about the cases to the media.

A report by GMA News' Joseph Morong on Unang Balita on Tuesday said Guanzon posted a series of tweets reminding the lawyers for litigants that they are not supposed to talk about pending cases to the public.

"Will lawyers for litigants @COMELEC please shut up," Guanzon said.

“When their cases are in court, all lawyers know they are not supposed to talk about it to the media. What do they think the Comelec is?” she added without mentioning a particular case.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez backed Guanzon, saying such action by the lawyers is putting pressure on the poll body and is just muddying the issue.

“Over the past few weeks, sobrang daming statements naglalabasan, kaliwa’t kanan, (there have been so many left and right statements) all trying to pressure the Comelec into deciding one way or the other,” he said.

Jimenez added that petitioners and respondents should remember to respect the rule of pendente lite (case in litigation). —Giselle Ombay/KBK, GMA News