Comelec en banc to discuss validity of Guanzon's comment

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc is set to discuss the validity of the comment filed by Commissioner Rowena Guanzon before the Supreme Court in relation to the disqualification case of Sen. Grace Poe.

The comment filed on January 7 started a misunderstanding between Guanzon and Comelec Chair Juan Andres Bautista. Guanzon filed the comment without the full concurrence of the poll body.

On Monday afternoon, the Comelec en banc filed another comment on Poe's appeal on the petitions seeking to cancel her certificate of candidacy for president.

Bautista said in a press conference on Monday that Guanzon was tasked to create a draft comment for the three petitions against Poe.

"During our January 5 meeting, Commissioner Guanzon was tasked together with the Law Department to create a draft for the three petitions – Contreras, Tatad and Valdez -- and Commissioner Art Lim who was requested by the en banc to draft a comment for the petition of Atty. Estrella Elamparo, again together with assistance of the Law Department," Bautista said.

Bautista issued a memorandum asking Guanzon to explain “under whose authority” she filed a comment before the high court.

Guanzon posted a statement on her Twitter account, pointing out that she is not a subordinate of Bautista and that he has no administrative control over her.

My statement on the Memorandum sent by Chair Bautista. pic.twitter.com/YEtPhnToLz

— Rowena V. Guanzon (@commrguanzon) January 8, 2016

Bautista said that Guanzon's statement will be submitted to the Comelec en banc for its session today.

"I also wanted to say, projecting the Comelec in this array I think is not accurate. Meron lang hindi pagkakaunawaan tungkol sa process ng pag-file kung kaya't gusto nating i-clear or linawin sa aming en banc meeting," the Comelec chief said.

The Comelec en banc is also set to discuss the proper procedure with respect to the filing of pleadings and documents before the high court.

RELATED: Comelec: What feud?