By Ferdinand Patinio/PNA
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is doubling its efforts to resolve pending election cases to be able to release the final list of candidates for the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections (NLE).
“We hope they will be able to resolve the cases within the week, or at least come to a comfortable place to come out with the list. So, our Law Department is really double-timing on these things, and even the Commissioners,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said in an interview Tuesday.
With this, Jimenez noted that the poll body still has several cases pending, either motu proprio or via petitions, that have to be resolved for them to come with the ultimate roster of bets for next year’s elections.
“For instance, the list of senators. There are still over 100 candidates left. So, the cleansing process is not yet completed,” he said.
The poll body official cited the presence of several issues involving aspirants’ Certificates of Nominations and Acceptance (CONA) as reason for the delay in the resolution of cases.
As an example, he said there is a case where one with a questioned CONA was substituted by another aspirant, followed by his/her CONA being invalidated, thereby making him/her an independent bet, who is not entitled to have a substitute.
Jimenez also said there are cases facing petitions for disqualification or cancellation of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs).
Earlier, the Comelec said it expects to release the final list on December 15.
A total of 152 COCs for senator were filed for the forthcoming polls.
