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Pimentel on Comelec junking of Cusi petition: No more No-el moves


Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Wednesday lauded the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) junking of the petition  to reopen the filing of certificates of candidacy for Eleksyon 2022 filed by the PDP-Laban faction of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

“First, we congratulate the Comelec for the swift action dismissing a baseless petition which has dangerous implications,” Pimentel, who leads Cusi’s rival faction in PDP-Laban, said in a text message to reporters.

Pimentel, namesake of one of the PDP-Laban founders, former Senate President Nene Pimentel, expressed hope that there won’t be another attempt to push for a “no election” or “no-el” scenario in 2022.

“Second, we can only hope and pray that there will be no other attempts to make possible a NO-EL scenario,” he said.

In a text message to GMA News Online, Cusi said they have yet to see the resolution from the Comelec.

“We have to see the resolution and evaluate our options,” he said.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said petitioners can appeal the poll body's decision before the Supreme Court.

Two factions of the PDP-Laban are vying for recognition before the Comelec—that of Cusi and President Rodrigo Duterte, and the other of Pimentel and presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Vice presidential aspirant and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan welcomed the dismissal of Cusi wing’s petition.

“Welcome ‘yung pagbasura nung mga petition. Kailangan pa rin maging mapagbantay. Ang tanging panlaban sa No-El ay ang dami ng taumbayan mismo na ang kagusutuhan na matuloy na ang eleksyon,” he said.

(The junking of the petitions is a welcome development but we still need to be vigilant. The only thing that will stop a No-El scenario is the number of people who want the 2022 elections to push through.)

Apart from the Cusi-led PDP-Laban wing’s petition, the poll body also junked the petition calling for the postponement of the 2022 national and local elections to May 9, 2025.—LDF, GMA News