The Commission on Elections (Comelec) wants to fast-track the resolution of the petition seeking the cancellation of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of aspiring presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
In a television interview last Wednesday, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said it usually takes a long time for the poll body to resolve such petitions.
He noted the petition needs to be first raffled to either the First or Second Division of Comelec before the hearings on the case could start.
The concerned division will then give the respondents five days to answer its summons; it holds a pre-conference, wherein the concerned parties will be provided three days to submit their respective memoranda.
After which, the case will be deemed submitted for resolution.
“It would take as long as it takes, but of course we want to expedite the resolution of the case,” Jimenez said
Jimenez issued the statement after a group of petitioners urged Comelec to cancel or deny in due course the COC of Marcos after he allegedly falsified its content by claiming he is not convicted of any crime.
The petitioners cited Marcos’ conviction by a Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Quezon City on July 27, 1995 for violating the provision of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) due to his failure to file several income tax returns in 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985.
In a brief statement, Victor Rodriguez, the spokesperson of Marcos, said they have yet to receive a copy of the petition, but he said they are ready to face such allegations.
He said they will wait for a copy of the petition before further commenting on the matter.
Image courtesy of Roy Domingo/BM