The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the petitioners and the camp of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to submit their respective memoranda to proceed with the resolution of the petition seeking the cancellation of Marcos’ candidacy in the 2022 elections.
“The parties are hereby given a period of five days from receipt of this Order to file their respective Memoranda in accordance with COMELEC Resolution No. 10673,” the Comelec Second Division’s order dated December 13 read.
“This case is deemed submitted for resolution after the lapse of the said period.”
The order came after the Comelec denied the petitioners’ request for the issuance of subpoena on the Certified True Copy of Marcos’ Tax Compliance Verification Records as well as the Certified True Copes of the Assessment Notices, and Demand Letter issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue in connection with Marcos’ unpaid estate taxes.
The petitioners likewise asked the Comelec to issue a subpoena to the Clerk of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, Branch 105 for the production of the certified true copy of decisions in 1995 and 1997, certified true copy of the entry of judgment of the decision in 1995, as partly affirmed by the Court of Appeals in 1997, and the certified true copy of the proof of payment, deficiency income taxes due with interest at legal rate, and the fine imposed by the Court.
Similarly, the Comelec denied Marcos camp’s prayer that the case be heard face to face on the premise that the petition refers to the highest elective position in the government.
The order, signed by Presiding Commissioner Socorro Inting, explained that the preliminary conference had already been concluded and the case should now be submitted for resolution upon the receipt of both parties memoranda or expiration of the period given by the Second Division.
However, the Comelec Second Division said setting the case for clarificatory hearing and the addition of more evidence, including the subject of the subpoena prayed for by the Petitioners, are no longer necessary in the resolution of the case.
“Doing so would only result to unnecessary delay which is inconsistent with the summary of this case,” the order read.
“Considering the foregoing, the Commission (Second Division) holds that no more further proceedings are to be taken in this case,” the order further stated.
Earlier, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the matter will be then deemed submitted for resolution once the respective memoranda are submitted.
The petition being resolved was filed by Fr. Christian Buenafe, co-chairperson of Task Force Detainees; Fides Lim, board chair of Kapatid-Families and Friends of Political Prisoners; Ma. Edeliza Hernandez, executive director of the Medical Action Groupl Celia Lagman Sevilla, secretary general of the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance; Roland Vibal Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates , and Josephine Lascano, executive director of the Balay Rehabilitation Center.
The groups are seeking the cancellation of Marcos’ COC for president, arguing that the latter was convicted on July 27, 1995 for failure to file income tax returns several times from 1982 to 1985.
They said this made Marcos, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., ineligible to run for office because he was a “convicted criminal.”
Marcos’ camp has dismissed the petitions filed against him as “propaganda” and “predictable nuisance.” –KBK, GMA News
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