Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21) — Poll commissioners will meet for a full session on Wednesday on a number of pending issues including the disqualification case against presidential bet Bongbong Marcos, an official said on Monday.
“This Wednesday, 23 March 2022, we will be having our en banc session and the letter of Akbayan and all other letters/motions of the same nature can be included in the agenda,” said Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Saidamen Balt Pangarungan in a statement on Monday.
He shared the statement after members of Akbayan Partylist marched to Comelec, urging the agency to hasten its decision on Marcos’ disqualification with a complete slate of commissioners.
“Any further delay is already a gross disservice to the voting public and our electoral system and favors Marcos Jr’s grand fakery,” said Akbayan first nominee Perci Cendaña.
Akbayan said the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) confirmed that the Marcos family has ₱203 billion in unpaid estate taxes from 1997. Marcos earlier called this ‘fake news’ but even the Department of Finance called on the BIR to collect the amount.
“Nanawagan kami sa Comelec na huwag hayaang mabiktima ang ating mga kababayan ni Bongbong Marcos,” said Akbayan.
(Translation: We are calling on Comelec not to allow the public to become victims of Bongbong Marcos)
Pangarungan said he asked for the “speedy disposition” of all pending cases at the Comelec.
