Comelec: No deadline on resolving Bongbong disqualification petition

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) did not set a deadline for resolving the disqualification case against presidential aspirant and ex-Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez made the response when asked what was the hold up on resolving the disqualification case filed by Akbayan and other civic leaders against Marcos that was pending before the Comelec First Division.

Akbayan was seeking Marcos' disqualification in the 2022 polls, arguing that Marcos' Court of Appeals convictions on four counts of Tax Code violations carried a penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office, among other penalties, as cited in Section 252 of the Tax Code.

Marcos committed the offenses when he was a public official.

"There is nothing holding it up. There is no deadline," Jimenez said. "The Resolution will come when it is ready."

Likewise, Jimenez could not say if the disqualification petition against Marcos' presidential bid would be resolved before Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon of the First Division retires on February 2.

"I cannot make guarantees," Jimenez said.

"In the past, if a new commissioner arrives late, they simply inhibit for not having taken part in the deliberations [on the pending petition], but we have to wait and see," Jimenez added.

Aside from Guanzon, other commissioners of the Comelec First Division include Marlon Casquejo and Aimee Ferolino. — DVM, GMA News