Davao City (CNN Philippines) — Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday (January 11) dismissed the challenge posted to him by Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon to act as a lawyer of Sen. Grace Poe whose candidacy for the presidency was cancelled by the poll body and is now being reviewed by the Supreme Court (SC).
In a statement posted on her Twitter account, Guanzon challenged Escudero to a showdown before the high court. She also dared Escudero, a lawyer, to defend Poe in her pleadings before the high tribunal.
In his reply, Escudero said that as a senator he is prohibited from practicing his legal profession.
Escudero instead turned the table on the Comelec commissioner, asking who she is lawyering for. The senator said that Guanzon’s comment submitted before the SC is clearly not from the Comelec en banc.
“Sino ang inaabogado niya? Who is she lawyering for? Maliwanag na hindi siya otorisado ng Comelec mag-file ng comment. Maliwanag hindi galing sa en banc yung kanyang authority na mag-file ng comment,” said Escudero.
Escudero admitted that Guanzon is indeed not a subordinate of Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista. But being a member of the collegial body, the commissioner cannot represent the Comelec without authority from other members of the group.
The vice presidential candidate called on Guanzon to refrain from saying or doing anything that might place the Comelec in a situation wherein its credibility would be affected.
“Ang election dapat clean, honest at peaceful. Dagdag pa dun dapat fair at credible din,” said Escudero. “Sana iwasan ni Commissioner Guanzon ang mga pananalita, galaw at aksyon na nagbibigay ng kulay at tila bias hindi man pabor sa isang kandidato laban sa isang kandidato partikular na kay Senator Grace.”
Escudero is in the Davao Region Monday (January 11) with Poe for a series of events.
