If she is sanctioned or disbarred, Rowena Guanzon says she can just plant tubo or sugarcane. The presiding commissioner of the Commission on Elections’ First Division is unfazed by the possible consequences of her disclosure of her vote for the disqualification of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from the presidential race.
Guanzon made the disclosure as she expressed exasperation that the two other members of the first division, which is handling the consolidated disqualification cases against the dictator’s son, appeared to be taking their sweet time in releasing their ruling, which is being penned by Commissioner Aimee Ferolino-Ampoloquio. Guanzon said the division members had agreed to release the decision on Jan. 17; at the latest, she said it should have been out on Jan. 25. Ampoloquio, who pointed to a lawyer catching COVID for the delay, denied agreeing to a Jan. 17 release.
Yesterday, Guanzon stoked the controversy by implying that a senator close to President Duterte was maneuvering the “conspiracy to delay” the release of the decision until her retirement from the Comelec on Feb. 2. Some legal quarters say her vote will no longer be counted upon her retirement and she might be replaced by someone who will vote differently. Guanzon indicated that a party with no presidential bet is also behind the intervention.
Reacting to her insinuation, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi denied that his faction of the PDP-Laban, which has no standard bearer but is supporting Marcos’ running mate Sara Duterte Carpio for vice president, is behind any delaying tactic.
Guanzon may face sanctions for her statements, but she is not the only one impatient for the resolution of the cases. The points raised in the petitions have been argued extensively by both sides in various platforms. Decisions reached by the First Division, which also includes Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, may be appealed before the entire Comelec and elevated to the Supreme Court.
Marcos’ name has been included in the ballot that is set for printing. He himself should not want a cloud of doubt hanging over the legitimacy of his candidacy. The Comelec has been busy working to ensure that the upcoming elections will be honest, open and peaceful. The timely resolution of this case is critical in attaining this objective.
The Marcos case must be resolved with finality before election day on May 9. This cannot happen if the Comelec does not treat the case with the urgency that it deserves.