OVER 100 days since he assumed the presidency, President Marcos Jr. can heave a sigh of relief after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday junked the last of the four disqualification cases lodged against his presidential bid last May 2022.
In its 13-page resolution, the Comelec en banc denied the Motion for Reconsideration (MR) of the members of Pudno Nga Ilokano, led by Margarita Salandanan, in a vote of 4-0 with one inhibition.
“We find that there is no cogent reason to disturb the findings of the Commission (First Division),” said the Comelec.
“Wherefore, in view of the foregoing, the Commission (en banc) denies petitioner’s partial motion for reconsideration (Re: Resolution promulgated on 20 April 2022) dated 25 April 2022 and affirms the resolution of the Commission (First Division) promulgated on 20 April 2022,” it said.
The poll body ruled there was no sufficient grounds offered in the MR that would warrant a reversal of the initial decision of the First Division.
“Ostensibly, the partial Motion for Reconsideration repeatedly hammered on the same issues it also raised before the Commission (First Division). These same issues and arguments were properly addressed by the Commission (First Division) after it conscientiously and painstakingly studied the facts and issues brought before it by the parties, and applied relevant law and jurisprudence,” said the Comelec.
Commissioners Socorro Inting, Marlon Casquejo, Aimee Ferolino, and Rey Bulay all voted in favor of dismissing the MR.
Meanwhile, Comelec chairman George Garcia took no part and inhibited from the case as Marcos was his former client during his days as an election lawyer.
To recall, the group of Ilocanos filed a petition for disqualification against Marcos as they accused him of committing a crime involving “moral turpitude” when he was convicted of failure to file his income tax returns.
Last April 2022, the Comelec First Division junked the petition for lack of merit.
The petitioners, subsequently, filed their MR before the Comelec en banc.
Prior to the May 9 polls, the Comelec en banc already junked the consolidated MR filed by Bonifacio Ilagan et. al., Akbayan Party, and Abubakar Mangelen; the appeal of Fr Christian Buenafe et. al.; and the MR of Danilo Lihaylihay.
