THE Supreme Court (SC) yesterday ordered Francis Leo Antonio Marcos to explain why he should not be cited in contempt “for his actions which tend to bring the SC’s processes into disrepute or disrespect.”
The High Court was referring to the withdrawal of Marcos, whose real name is Norman Mangusin, on January 23 from the Senate race in the May 12 elections.
Just two days before his withdrawal, or on January 21, the SC allowed Marcos to run when it issued a temporary restraining order against the Commission on Elections (Comelec) which had declared him as a nuisance candidate in December last year.
“The SC ordered Marcos to show cause within 72 hours from notice why he should not be cited in contempt for his actions which tend to bring the SC’s processes into disrepute or disrespect,” lawyer Camille Ting, spokesperson of the High Court, said in a press briefing.
Marcos had said in a press conference that he withdrew from the race to “give way” to Sen. Imee Marcos, adding that his continued run would confuse voters.
He also said his withdrawal from the senatorial race was to prevent the government from spending around P132 million just to reprint the ballots.
The Comelec yesterday said that 45,649,329 official ballots have been printed as of February 25 at the National Printing Office (NPO) in Quezon City.
The number is comprised of 22,570,822 ballots printed by the Comelec’s service provider, Miru Systems; and another 23,078,507 produced by the NPO.
This means that 63.32 percent of the 72,097,420 total official ballots needed in the May 2025 polls have already been printed, leaving only 26,448,091 ballots that still need to be printed.
The Comelec resumed the printing of official ballots for the May 12 polls on January 27.
Given the current pace, the Comelec is seeing the completion of the printing of official ballots by March 9 or 10.
VOTE BUYING
Mataas na Kahoy (Batangas) Vice Mayor Jay Manalo Ilagan yesterday filed a disqualification petition against the CWS party-list due to alleged acts of vote buying.
In his four-page plea, Ilagan said the CWS party-list group led by Rep. Edwin Gardiola should be held administratively and criminally liable for “violating election laws and that proper penalties be imposed in accordance with the Omnibus Election Code.”
He said the group’s accreditation and candidacy should be disqualified if investigation finds them guilty.
Ilagan said CWS party-list must be held liable for alleged vote buying acts when it awarded three brand new cars to the winners of the “Last to Take Hands Off Challenge” held from February 13 to February 15 during the Barakofest 2025 event held in Lipa, Batangas.
“The act of distributing high-value prizes by a party-list during the campaign period constitutes vote-buying, as defined under the Omnibus Election Code (OEC),” he said.
He also cited the statement of Batangas gubernatorial candidate Vilma Santos-Recto thanking CWS party-list for the prizes during the event while mentioning the group’s designated number in the official ballots.
“The said act seeks to unduly influence voters and provides an unfair advantage to the respondent, CWS party-list, over other candidates and parties,” he added.
Vote buying is an act where any person, party, or organization gives, offers, or promises money or anything of value to induce anyone to vote for or against a candidate or party.
DATU PIANG
On the heels of the shooting of Datu Piang Vice Mayor Omar Samama, Comelec chairman George Garcia said the poll body is mulling the possibility of placing the town under its control.
In a radio interview, Garcia said the poll body is also thinking of placing areas with reported election-related violence under Comelec Control.
“We have these security concerns, especially in Mindanao, where we are monitoring a slight increase in election-related violence. In the areas where there are election-related violence, we may consider placing them under Comelec Control,” he said.
The poll chief said putting an area under Comelec Control will allow them to act faster whenever necessary.
“We can respond faster and see better the adjustments needed in areas that require higher level of preparations for the elections,” said Garcia.
For the meantime, he said they will coordinate with the PNP regarding the adjustment of their levels of areas of concern.
He said the adjustment will also be timely as the country draws closer to Election Day.
“These incidents are already happening, and we are not yet even entering the local campaign period,” Garcia said.
Last Monday, Samama, who is running for re-election, was shot while giving a speech before his constituents. He is in a stable condition and is recovering in the hospital.
