Comelec unlikely to withdraw order suspending recall proceedings

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is not likely to withdraw an order suspending all recall proceedings against elected officials.

According to Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., the poll body will not entertain any motion for reconsideration (MR) on Resolution No. 9882 that the poll body had issued last month to stop all recall proceedings.

“In the commission en banc, we don’t entertain MRs. The decision is already final,” he said in an interview.

Brillantes said those opposing the resolution should go to the Supreme Court for intervention, rather than the Comelec.

In the resolution, the Comelec cited the lack of line item budget and lack of authority to commit funds for recall.

It also expressed concerns that recall elections would open the floodgates to similar petitions, thus hampering preparations for the 2016 polls.

The resolution was questioned by Perlita Mendoza, the petitioner in the recall case filed against Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado that has been pending with the Comelec.

Mendoza had filed last Wednesday an MR with the Comelec, invoking the separate opinions of Comelec Commissioner Grace Padaca, Al Parreño and Luie Guia that there is a line item in the Personnel Services and Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses.

She argued that the Comelec should “not prematurely pre-empt the outcome of (her) petition by motu propio suspending the proceedings.”

But Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the resolution was not based on a case or a decision only. “It is like a policy statement. To question that, I think the proper venue is the Supreme Court,” he said.