By Ferdinand Patinio/PNA
MANILA — Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to immediately resolve the disqualification cases filed against him in connection with his candidacy in the May 2019 polls.
“It is to the benefit of the people that these cases be resolved immediately. Or else, votes may be put to waste come the elections,” Pimentel’s legal counsel George Garcia said in an interview after the preliminary hearing on the case on Tuesday.
“We are hoping and praying that the Comelec will resolve already these cases so that all doubts will be removed,” he added.
The election lawyer noted that coming up with rulings on the cases will allow all parties to plan their next action.
“Whatever will be their decision, then anybody can go to the Supreme Court and file a petition,” Garcia said.
At the same time, he added that they will be filing a motion for consolidation of the two cases.
“The issue is purely legal. The issue only deals with the question whether the first tenure of Sen. Pimentel should be considered as a term. If yes, then Sen. Pimentel is already in his second term,” Garcia said.
Separate disqualification cases were filed by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and former Biliran representative Glenn Chong questioning the qualification of Pimentel as a senatorial bet as he is already in his second six-year term as senator.
