Comelec reviewing SC order on South Cotabato polls

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to implement a Supreme Court (SC) order to proclaim Shirlyn Banas-Nograles as winner in the May 13 congressional race in the first district of South Cotabato.

“Still waiting for en banc to decide whether a motion for reconsideration will be filed,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said yesterday.

In a resolution issued on Sept. 10, the high tribunal said congressional elections in South Cotabato “should not have been suspended and the candidate obtaining the most number of votes for the said position must be proclaimed.”

Nograles garnered 194,929 of the total 284,351 votes cast. 

The SC voided the Comelec decision to suspend the congressional elections and declare the votes as “stray.”

The poll body suspended the elections after President Duterte signed Republic Act 11243, which reapportions the first legislative district of South Cotabato.

The law led to the creation of the lone district of General Santos City.

The  Comelec also cited lack of time to revise the electoral data in the automated election system with only 38 days before election day.

It set the elections for representatives of the first and third districts of South Cotabato on Oct. 26.  

The filing of certificates of candidacy was from Aug. 26 to 28. The campaign period, which started on Sept. 11, is until Oct. 24.

The House of Representatives said it would wait for the proclamation of the winner in the May 13 congressional vote in the first district of South Cotabato.

“This is the same process for all House members, including party-list representatives,” a secretariat official said.  – With Jess Diaz