THE Supreme Court yesterday issued a temporary restraining order against the substitution of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Rowena Guanzon as representative of the party-list group Komunidad ng Pamilya, Pasyente at Persons with Disabilities (P3PWD) in the House of Representatives.
“Considering the allegations contained and the issues raised and arguments adduced in the petition, it is necessary and proper to issue a temporary restraining order effective immediately and continuing until further orders from this Court,” the order said.
The high court also directed the P3PWD, Guanzon, the Comelec, and the House of Representatives to respond within 10 days to the petition filed by Duterte Youth party-list group, which is represented by Rep. Ducielle Marie Cardema and her husband, National Youth Commission chief Ronald Cardema.
The order also told the poll body to provide the SC within five days with a duplicate original or a certified true copy of its resolution allowing Guanzon’s substitution.
The P3PWD party-list group won one seat at the House of Representatives. On June 14, 2022, all the original nominees submitted to the poll body their resignation and/or withdrawal from the organization. On that same day, the group submitted certificates of nomination and acceptance of Guanzon as the first nominee.
The Comelec granted the next day the withdrawal of the original nominees of the P3PWD party-list and allowed Guanzon to represent the group.
