The Supreme Court is asking the COMELEC to comment on the request of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to nullify the 2016 elections in Lanao Del Sur, Basilan, and Maguindanao.
The High Court which also acts as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) has ordered the COMELEC along with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to comment on the PET’s power in annulling the said election without special elections or declaring a failure of elections and then hold special elections.
The PET wishes to know if the COMELEC has received any petitions for the declaration of failure of elections in the 3 areas, and the results of the special elections provided that it was held.
The SC has given 20 days to the COMELEC and OSG to submit their responses and 15 days for both camps of Robredo and Marcos.
In a statement issued by the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo, it said it “welcomes the latest Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) order as this will help fast-track the resolution of the election protest. We will comply with the High Tribunal’s order and wait for the comments of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Solicitor General on the pending matters.”
Meanwhile, Marcos’ side pointed out that “considering the very thin time left in the term of the contested position, our protest is under real threat of becoming moot and academic by events leading to 2022 such as the filing of candidacy, campaign and national election that would reduce the clamor and right of the people to know who really won the vice presidency illusory.”
This is Marcos’ third cause of action on his filed poll protest against current Vice President Leni Robredo. – Report from Kenneth Paciente
