Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) — Commissioner Rowena Guanzon on Wednesday appealed to a fellow Commission on Elections official to release the decision on three disqualification cases against Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos amid a prolonged delay.
All eyes are on the Comelec’s First Division as voters await the outcome of three disqualification cases against the presidential hopeful. The division aired live its pre-conference on the case on January 7, and the case was deemed ready for resolution two days later.
Guanzon appeared in an unannounced Facebook live feed—her second in two weeks—to explain the delay. She admitted that she was not the commissioner assigned to pen the decision despite being the presiding officer of the division.
It’s either of Guanzon’s two colleagues in the division: Commissioners Aimee Ferolino or Marlon Casquejo.
“Anxious na kayo, marami nang haka-haka kasi as of today, Jan 26, kung Jan. 10 na-raffle (ang ponente) ay 16 days na, hindi pa lumalabas ang resolusyon [I know you are all anxious and there are already a lot of speculations because as of today, Jan. 26, it’s been 16 days since the raffle was held (to identify the ponente) on Jan. 10 and the resolution has not been released,” the senior commissioner said.
Guanzon cited an “internal” Comelec rule wherein commissioners ideally resolve pending cases within 15 days. The Second Division, however, took a month to decide to junk the plea to cancel Marcos’ certificate of candidacy, which is now under appeal.
“January 17 po naglabas na ng decision ang Second Division, sana po nakisabay kami doon pero hindi po nangyari kasi hindi pa po ready ang ponente. Ayon sa kanya, na-COVID ‘yung kanyang abogadong in-assign at siya’y nag-quarantine din dahil close contact,” Guanzon said.
“Kung ang dahilan nga ay may sakit yung kanyang lawyer, eh tapos na rin naman yung quarantine nila… Pagbigyan naman natin siya ng ilang araw pa para maisumite na niya at makaboto na kami,” she added.
[Translation: The Second Division released its decision on Jan. 17, we would have released ours on the same day but the ponente wasn’t ready yet. According to the ponente, the lawyer working on the case got COVID and the commissioner also had to undergo quarantine as a close contact. If that’s the reason, they should have already completed their quarantine… Let’s give them a few more days to submit and for us to vote.]
Guanzon earlier committed to release the decision on or before Jan. 17.
She has denied allegations that she was bribed to delay the proceedings. Guanzon is set to retire next week, together with Second Division Commissioner Antonio Kho, Jr. and Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas.
“Tapos na po ang separate opinion ko. Alam na po ng ponente ang boto ko, alam na rin ng isa pang commissioner ang boto ko,” Guanzon said.
“By Friday po o at the latest Monday, promise ko po sa inyo zero backlog ako sa aking mga kaso na sa akin in-assign ang pagsusulat,” she added. “Huwag naman sanang exception itong Marcos disqualification case kasi katungkulan ko ito eh.”
[Translation: My separate opinion is ready. The ponente and the other commissioner know my vote. By Friday or Monday at the latest, I promise I will have zero backlog for cases assigned to me. I hope this Marcos disqualification case won’t be an exception because this is part of my duties.]
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