Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 3) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday said until a reshuffle within the poll body is officially announced, it is not yet certain that Commissioner Marlon Casquejo can no longer vote on the consolidated disqualification cases against presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“I’m not even sure where that’s coming from—this notion that Commissioner Casquejo can no longer vote,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said in a media briefing.
“I don’t think that’s ever been discussed, at least not in those terms, although I have heard it from outside of the Comelec,” he added.
Now-retired Commissioner Rowena Guanzon earlier said Casquejo is set to transfer from the First Division to the Second Division, and thus won’t be able to vote given the “delay” in the issuance of Commissioner Aimee Ferolino’s decision. Ferolino serves as ponente or division member assigned to write the decision on the cases against Marcos.
According to Jimenez, this reported transfer may have been discussed in an executive session and is something he is “not privy to.”
“I cannot speak [about] Commissioner Guanzon’s claim, because again, like I said, she was referring to information that I do not have. So, I really can’t say whether or not tama ‘yung conclusion natin tungkol sa sinabi niya [our conclusion regarding what she said is correct]… We’ll wait on Feb. 9,” he said.
A commission en banc meeting is scheduled on Feb. 9, to be presided over by acting chairman Socorro Inting.
Jimenez added the Comelec can amend its rules at any given time, which means the disqualification cases may remain under Ferolino or may be re-raffled to let another commissioner pen the decision.
Guanzon earlier bared she voted to disqualify Marcos due to his conviction for failure to file income tax returns for four years when he was vice governor and governor of Ilocos Norte. However, that vote was invalidated since Ferolino had not yet written the ruling by the time Guanzon retired on Wednesday.
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Comelec ‘not crippled’
Meanwhile, Jimenez said the simultaneous retirement of Guanzon, Chairman Sheriff Abas, and Commissioner Antonio Kho will pose challenges to the remaining members, but added the Comelec is “not crippled.”
“I guess, yes, there is a possibility that some decisions would not be promulgated as rapidly as they might, but ultimately, I don’t think that it will have any significant or damaging effect on these cases,” he said.
Jimenez stressed, however, that this doesn’t mean there is less urgency in filling the vacancies.
He added that the poll body trusts President Rodrigo Duterte is “aware” of the immediate need for new appointees as the May elections near.
