PDP-Laban files petition vs Comelec’s SOCE extension

MANILA, Philippines – Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to nullify the Commission on Elections resolution granting the Liberal Party’s request to extend the deadline of the submission of statements of contributions and expenditures.

PDP-Laban, which has President Rodrigo Duterte as chairman, filed the petition for certiorari through presumptive House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, the party's secretary general. Alvarez was represented by George Garcia, who was Sen. Grace Poe's lawyer in a Supreme Court petition to nullify a Comelec decision disqualifying her from the May presidential elections.

Garcia is also on the legal team of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who ran for vice president in the May elections. Marcos has filed an electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo. The former senator also asked he Supreme Court to set aside Robredo's proclamation and instead declare him the winning vice presidential candidate.

The party is the second to file a petition questioning the Comelec’s decision to extend the deadline of the filing of SOCE.

In its petition dated July 5, 2016, PDP-Laban is asking the SC En Banc “to declare the assailed Comelec Resolution No. 10147 dated June 23, null and void for grossly violating the provisions of Section 14 of Republic Act 7166 or the synchronized election law” to accommodate LP’s request.

It added that the poll body’s resolution was issued without or in excess of its jurisdiction or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.

PDP said it also wants the SC to revoke and set aside the extension of deadline for the filing of SOCEs and its supporting documents. The Comelec voted to allow the extension, saying failing to do so would "defeat the will of the people."

On June 28, the high tribunal moved to dismiss the motion of retired Army Col. Justino Padiernos of the People's Freedom Party and lawyer Manuelito Luna questioning the Comelec resolution.

The Supreme Court said that the petition was insufficient since petitioners did not attach a copy of the Comelec resolution.

The poll body moved the deadline of the filing of SOCE to June 30 despite the announcement that the June 8 deadline is “non-extendable.” —With reports from Edu Punay

RELATED: SC scraps petition vs Comelec’s SOCE extension | Comelec en banc grants LP request, extends SOCE filing