SC reverses Comelec DQ of 5 local bets
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections has suspended the printing of ballots for the May elections to give way to the inclusion of names of five local candidates rejected earlier by the Comelec but ordered reinstated by the Supreme Court.
In an emergency full session yesterday, the Comelec ordered the printing of ballots and other related activities at the National Printing Office stopped, as part of compliance with the SC’s issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the poll body’s disqualification of the five candidates.
The Comelec said the re-printing of all affected ballots will resume after all necessary changes in the candidates’ database and Election Management System (EMS) have been completed.
“While the Comelec has yet to receive copies of the TROs, we commit to do everything to comply with the said orders,” the Comelec said in a statement.
Aside from suspending the ballot printing, the Comelec also ordered amendments to the candidates’ database and changes in the numbering of candidates.
“While these actions are indeed time-consuming and very costly, the Comelec fully respects the decision of the Supreme Court and recognizes these orders as part of legal processes,” it added.
The poll body further assured the public that there is no cause for alarm despite the delay in the preparations for the coming elections.
The Comelec said it will conduct an inventory of ballots already printed and destroy them to prevent their unauthorized use.
SC order
Earlier yesterday, the SC stopped the Comelec from disqualifying the five local candidates and ordered the poll body to include their names in the ballot.
SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting said in a full court session yesterday, the SC issued TROs on Comelec resolutions disqualifying the five candidates. The TROs are immediately executory, she said.
Among the five candidates are former Caloocan City representative Edgar Erice, who had been disqualified by the Comelec to run for the same post.
Ting said the SC gave the Comelec 10 days to comment on Erice’s petition challenging his disqualification.
The poll body had disqualified Erice for violation of Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code for supposedly spreading “false and alarming” information.
On being informed of the SC decision, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body “will have to find a way to comply with the SC directive” and discuss the possibility of suspending the ongoing printing of ballots.
The Comelec started on Jan. 6 the printing of 73 million ballots to be used for the elections.
The SC also granted a TRO in favor of two individuals declared as nuisance candidates, namely Subair Guinthum Mustapha, who is running for senator, and Charles Savellano who is aiming for a congressional seat in Ilocos Sur.
The high tribunal also granted a TRO in favor of Chito Bulatao Balintay, an Aeta leader who is running for governor of Zambales and whose certificate of candidacy (COC) was rejected by the Comelec.
The SC also stopped the Comelec from cancelling the COC of Florendo de Ramos Ritualo Jr., a candidate for the Sangguniang Panglungsod member in San Juan City’s First District.
“The TROs prohibit the Comelec from disqualifying them. So this means their names have to be included in the ballot. So it’s up to Comelec how they would implement this. But they will just have to follow the order of the SC,” Ting said.
Quiboloy plea junked
Meanwhile, a Pasig City court denied a motion filed by detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy to attend a live television interview in connection with his senatorial bid.
In a three-page order dated Jan. 13 denying Quiboloy’s petition, Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 159 cited concerns about the potential impact of the religious sect leader’s public statements during the interview on ongoing legal proceedings.
“While this court recognizes the right of accused Quiboloy to seek public office and to engage in lawful campaign activities, this right is not absolute and remains subject to regulation by the court,” the order stated.
The court emphasized that Quiboloy has other means to share his platform with the public, noting that participation in a live media interview is not indispensable for campaigning.
Quiboloy was seeking permission to participate in a live interview yesterday organized by ABS-CBN News.
However, the court noted that the request was not accompanied by a formal invitation from the network, which hindered the court’s ability to establish appropriate safeguards for the interview.
“For failure of accused Quiboloy to substantiate his prayer in the motion and to safeguard the fairness of the trial and maintain the confidentiality of the proceedings, the court exercises its discretion in not allowing accused Quiboloy to participate in the supposed live interview,” the court said.
Quiboloy is facing a non-bailable charge of qualified human trafficking under Section 4(a) of Republic Act 9208, as amended, before the Pasig City court.
He is also charged with violating Section 5(b) and Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
Quiboloy has pleaded not guilty to all charges. — Mark Ernest Villeza