Comelec: Poll commissioners impartial on petition vs. Bongbong's 2022 prexy bid

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday that its commissioners remain impartial on the pending case seeking to cancel the certificate of candidacy (COC) of former senator Bongbong Marcos, Jr.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez made the statement amid the motion for partial reconsideration filed by Fr. Christian Buenafe and other human rights groups in connection with the poll body's Second Division junking the petition to deny due course and grant the cancellation of Marcos' COC.

The petitioners have sought the automatic and mandatory inhibition of the members of Comelec Second Division from participating in the discussions of the MR in the commission en banc due to alleged "presence of bias".

"We take exception to that characterization," Jimenez said in a press briefing.

"Prior to her appointment to Comelec, Commissioner Inting has 20 years of judicial experience, including nine years as Court of Appeals judge. We stand by the record of our commissioner. We let the record speak for itself," he added.

Jimenez later said that such impartiality applies to all members of the Comelec Second Division.

"I just mentioned Commissioner Inting because she was the ponente (the one who wrote the decision)," he said.

Aside from Inting, the Comelec Second Division has Commissioners Antonio Kho Jr. and Rey Bulay as members.

Kho is set to retire on February 2.

The Comelec Second Division junked the Buenafe petition noting that the CA ruling on Marcos' convictions did not impose a penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding any public office, voting, and participating in any election.

The petitioners, however, argued that Marcos made false representation in his COC when he said that he was not convicted of an offense carrying a penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding any public office, voting, and participating in any election.

They said the Tax Code provides that individuals found convicted of violating Tax Code during their tenure as public officials are perpetually disqualified from vying for public office.—AOL, GMA News