AWARE of massive public interest, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to livestream the promulgation of decision on the disqualification cases filed against presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“On or before January 17, the Comelec First Division will promulgate its resolution on the DQ cases versus Marcos Jr. If not too risky, we will read it in the Session Hall on livestream,” said Division presiding commissioner Rowena Guanzon said in a social media post.
She issued the announcement just a day after the First Division raffled off the disqualification cases against Marcos that are deemed submitted for resolution.
Three of the seven disqualification cases against Marcos are being handled by the First Division — filed by Bonifacio Ilagan, Akbayan party, and Abubakar Mangelen.
Ilagan was joined by former lawmakers Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza, among others, in asking the Comelec to disqualify Marcos saying the latter is not eligible to run for president because he is a convicted criminal.
Akbayan is asking the Comelec to disqualify Marcos from running for president because he has been convicted of crimes that bar him from holding public office.
Mangelen, who claims to be the duly-elected chairman of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), is asking the Comelec to declare the certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) issued by PFP and submitted by Marcos as being null and void.
Meanwhile, the number of presidential aspirants for the May 2022 polls has been cut to 10 names, based on the Comelec’s tentative candidates’ list.
Gerald Arcega (Independent) was removed from the list as of January 10.
This leaves Ernie Abella (Independent), Leody de Guzman (Partido Lakas ng Masa), Isko Moreno (Aksyon Demokratiko), Norberto Gonzales (Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas), Ping Lacson (Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma), Faisal Mangondato (Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi), Marcos (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas), Jose Montemayor (Democratic Party of the Philippines), Manny Pacquiao (Abag Promdi), and Leni Robredo (Independent) as potential presidential candidates.
The Comelec said the list of vice presidential aspirants still has nine names.
The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) Cusi faction asked its members to remain united and supportive of President Duterte as it reiterated its promise to support and help in the campaign of all its candidates down to the local level.
PDP Laban president Alfonso Cusi, in a statement said the party will call for the national council meeting for the first quarter of the year as soon as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted or when the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) issues its new guidelines that would be conducive to holding meetings. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
