Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez denied the poll body is favoring Marcos, saying it is within its purview to allow extensions.
“Number 1, the Comelec does have the authority to disregard procedural rules which is normal, even the courts do it,” he said in a media briefing. “Second, the 2nd Div saw that there was a need to resolve this issue rather than postpone it to a later date so tinuloy [so it was allowed to continue].”
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 25) — The Commission on Elections stood by its decision to give presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. more time to respond to the petition to cancel his 2022 candidacy.
The poll body’s second division denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the first petitioners, saying it granted the plea of the Marcos camp “in the interest of justice and speedy resolution” of the case.
The decision was promulgated on Tuesday and made available to the media on Thursday.
Lawyer Theodore Te filed a motion for reconsideration last week to ask the poll body to recall its earlier decision giving Marcos another five days to formally respond to the petition to cancel his certificate of candidacy. However, the former senator’s lawyers filed their response to the poll body that same day, ahead of the Monday, November 22 extended deadline.
Te, a former Supreme Court spokesman, argued the Comelec should not have given any sort of extension regarding the case, saying the poll body’s Rules of Procedure specifically states that deadlines for written responses sought by the poll body are “non-extendible,” based on Comelec Resolution No. 9523.
The first petitioners said Marcos’ guilty verdict over unfiled tax returns meant he can no longer participate in any election, based on the country’s tax code.
Marcos is currently facing five petitions questioning his candidacy, three of which are cancellation bids, one to declare him as a nuisance candidate, and one disqualification petition.
CNN Philippines correspondent Melissa Lopez contributed to this report.
