MANILA, Philippines - Former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. will take the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to the Supreme Court for upholding the merger of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).
However, the Pangasinan lawmaker will first ask the poll body to reconsider its decision before he goes to the SC.
In a statement, De Venecia – who co-founded Lakas in 1992 with President Fidel Ramos – said the Comelec disregarded his argument that the Lakas national assembly did not ratify the merger as provided in the party’s constitution and bylaws.
“What the merged party submitted to the Comelec was only a declaration of the national directorate of Lakas-CMD which is not the body mandated to make the ratification under Lakas-CMD’s constitution and bylaws,” he said.
“Thus, the merger that will result in the dissolution of the Lakas-CMD is not binding on the members of the party,” he said.
The Comelec has directed election officers to inspect polling precincts “to determine their availability, accessibility and suitability” in next year’s elections. – Delon Porcalla, Sheila Crisostomo