Comelec to decide on Marcos case before holiday break

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will decide on the first petition seeking to cancel the certificate of candidacy (COC) of presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as soon as both parties submit their respective memoranda.

The petition was filed by cause-oriented groups led by Fr. Christian Buenafe.

A five-page order signed by Commissioner Socorro Inting stated that the petition would be deemed submitted for resolution as soon as both parties submit their memoranda within five days from receipt of the order or after the five-day period lapses.

The commission said there is no need to conduct a clarificatory hearing or submission of additional pieces of evidence as these would only delay the decision.

A preliminary conference on Buenafe’s petition to cancel Marcos’ COC was held in November.

The Comelec initially deferred the issuance of the memoranda due to a pending petition for intervention on Buenafe’s petition filed by the group of Rommel Bautista, and a motion by the Marcos camp for a physical oral argument.

Both Bautista and Marcos’ motions were dismissed by the Comelec in an order issued on Dec. 13 as well as Buenafe’s appeal to order the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to produce documents relevant to Marcos’ tax cases.

The Comelec said it would not hold further proceedings relevant to Buenafe’s petition, noting the case will be deemed submitted for resolution after the lapse of the five-day period with or without the parties’ memoranda.

Former Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te, counsel for Buenafe’s group, said they would submit their memoranda on Dec. 20, the fifth day from the day they received the Comelec’s order.

“Submission of memoranda is due on the 20th, the 5th day being a non working day. No other statement or reaction needed at this time,” Te said.

He said the public would be updated after they submit their memoranda.

The STAR tried to contact Marcos’ lawyer and spokesman Vic Rodriguez for comment, but he was not available.