Tito Sotto asks Guanzon to name senator 'trying to influence Marcos DQ case'

Senate President Tito Sotto on Friday called on Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon to identify the senator who is allegedly trying to influence the commission on the disqualification case against Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Sotto made the remark hours after Guanzon said that a senator may be trying to influence commissioners as regards the petition to disqualify Marcos.

"It's best that she names the senator. Otherwise, we will all be suspect," Sotto said.

"If there is proof, I will ask the Committee on Ethics to look into the matter," he added.

On The Mangahas Interviews, Guanzon said the case is being held up on the part of Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, a member of the First Division which is handling the case.

She said Ferolino has stopped responding to messages and calls.

“Iniipit nila diyan kay Commissioner Aimee Ferolino. Pulitiko ito, malaking poderoso ito, kasi hindi naman gagawin ito ni Commissioner Aimee na hindi siya nakasandal sa taong malakas," she said.

(They are keeping the resolution with Commissioner Aimee Ferolino. A politician is behind this, a big one, because Commissioner Aimee will not do this if she does not have a powerful backer.)

Guanzon, who voted for Marcos' disqualification, initially accused a political party "with no presidential candidate" of interfering with the case

“Hindi niyo nga kandidato ‘yan si Marcos Jr. Ano ba? Salungat kayo sa partido niyo (Marcos Jr. is not even your candidate. What is this? Are you against your own party?” she said.

Asked if she is referring to the PDP-Laban wing under Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Guanzon said she is not sure but added it is "most likely a senator."

“Hindi ko alam kung PDP, pero malamang senador [I don’t know if it’s PDP, but it’s most likely a senator],” she said.
Guanzon, however, cleared Senator Imee Marcos, sister of the embattled presidential aspirant.

“Hindi naman gagawin ni Imee Marcos ito sa akin, classmate ko siya eh. Hindi ko lang ka-classmate, seatmate ko siya [Imee will not do this to me. She was my classmate and also seatmate],” she said, referring to their days in UP College of Law. —NB, GMA News