MANILA, Philippines- Hiniling sa Supreme Court (SC) na pigilan ang Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa pagkansela sa certificates of candidacy (COCs) sa 2025 elections ng dating public officials na pinatalsik sa pwesto subalit ang accessory penalty na perpetual disqualification to hold public office ay wala pang pinal na desisyon.
Inihain ni dating Albay governor Noel E. Rosal ang petisyon na humamon sa Resolution No. 11044-A ng Comelec sa diskwalipikasyon ng mga kandidato tulad niya. Ang election lawyer na si Romulo B. Macalintal ang kumatawan kay Rosal sa SC petition.
Ipinalabas ang Resolution No. 11044-A ng Comelec noong Sept. 4. Sinabi ni Rosal sa SC na ang Resolution No. 11044-A ay amendment sa Resolution No. 11044 na naglilimita sa kanselasyon ng COCs ng public officials na napatalsik sa pwesto sa criminal cases at hindi maaaring pairalin sa administrative cases na pinagdedesisyunan ng Office of the Ombudsman at ang accessory penalty na perpetual disqualification to hold public office ay may nakabinbing desisyon sa apela.
Batay sa petisyon sa sa SC, ipinalabas ng Comelec ang resolusyon upang pagtugmain ang Section 12, Article 1 ng Omnibus Election Code (OEC) na may “existing laws and jurisprudence” sa disqualification cases.
Subalit, iginiit ni Rosal sa kanyang petisyon na “existing jurisprudence or decisions of the SC and even existing Comelec policy have been very consistent in previous elections that the said penalty of perpetual disqualification applies only once the decision of the Ombudsman becomes final and executory.”
Gayundin, sinabi ni Rosal na ang kapangyarihan ng Comelec na magdiskwalipika ng kandidato ay hindi maaaring pairalin sa administrative proceeding sa pamamagitan ng Law Department nito “since it is not within the administrative power of the Comelec, but rather it calls for the exercise of its quasi-judicial functions through its Division or En Banc….”
“By referring a disqualification case to its Law Department there is that imminent and clear danger that such candidate will be deprived of his right to due process because Comelec will act the incompatible roles of complainant, judge and prosecutor, since its Law Department has no choice but to comply with the directive of its superior to forthwith cancel the certificate of candidacy of the candidate,” pahayag niya.
“And when that happens, then Rosal faces the clear and imminent danger of being deprived of his right of suffrage as there is that danger that his name may not be included in the official ballots while he is seeking further legal remedies,” dagdag nito.
Kaya naman, hiniling niya sa SC na magpalabas ng status quo ante order o temporary restraining order (TRO) upang pigilan ang Comelec na ipatupad ang Resolution No. 11044-A. RNT/SA