Groups: Delayed Comelec resolution on Bongbong DQ cases cultivates disinformation

At least 25 organizations have called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to resolve the disqualification cases against presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., saying that delaying the cases would cultivate disinformation.

The organizations were referring to the consolidated disqualification petitions  filed by Akbayan and other civic leaders against the ex-senator and son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, based on the Tax Code provision that a public official convicted of violating it, such as Marcos, Jr., is perpetually disqualified from running for public office.

The consolidated petition is pending before the Comelec First Division.

"Now, more than ever, the Honorable Comelec must demonstrate that it understands the importance of ‘the fierce urgency of now’ by releasing the results of the disqualification cases without further delay. The longer these remain unresolved, the more these create confusion, sow division, and become fertile sources of disinformation," the groups said in a statement.

"We must be all in this together. Given the importance of the coming May 2022 elections, it behooves the Honorable Comelec to show that it can rise above personalities and politics, judiciously exercise its Constitutional mandate and faithfully abide by its internal rules," they added.

Comelec, they said, must exhibit leadership, impartiality and autonomy as it discerns and acts on the merits of the disqualification cases.

"The background of the candidates running for President viewed in the context of the Philippines’ struggle to recover from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, would make the results of this Presidential race crucial to our survival as a nation not only in the next six years but in the decades to come," they pointed out.

"The undersigned organizations implore the Honorable Commission on Elections (Comelec) to urgently resolve with utmost independence the disqualification cases pending against the presidential aspirant, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr.," they added.

Signatories of the statement include:

• Alternative Law Groups
• Ateneo de Davao University Legal Aid Services Office
• Ateneo de Naga University College of Law
• Ateneo Human Rights Center
• Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals
• Communication Foundations for Asia, Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism and Democracy
• Emilio Aguinaldo College
• Filipino American Human Rights Alliance
• Fact Check Philippines
• iDEFEND Movement
• KARAPATAN
• Lyceum of the Philippines
• University College of Law
• Malaya Movement USA
• Movement Against Disinformation Philippines
• Now You Vote
• Philippine Bar Association
• Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
• Philippine Chapter – NYSBA International
• Pinoy Media Center
• SALIGAN – Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panlegal, Inc.
• SAMASA Alumni Association, Inc.
• Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila
• The Foundation for Media Alternatives
• Wiki Society of the Philippines
• Xavier University, among other individual signatories.

Former Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon had been the Presiding Officer of the First Division before her retirement on February 2. Ahead of the date, with the resolution still unreleased, she accused another member of the division, Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, of delaying the ponencia on the case.

Guanzon claimed that Ferolino had been deliberately delaying the resolution to invalidate Guanzon and then-fellow Commissioner Marlon Casquejo's votes.

Guanzon has since retired, along with Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas and Commissioner Antonio Kho, Jr., while Casquejo has moved on to the Second Divison as Presiding Officer.

Casquejo replaced Commissioner Socorro Inting, who is now acting Comelec chair.

Ferolino has denied delaying the proceedings, saying she is still reviewing the merits of the petitions. — BM, GMA News