News Roundup 01 June 2022
Jun 01, 2022 • 4 min Read
Bongbong Marcos asks SC to dismiss petition to cancel COC | INQUIRER.NET – President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is asking the Supreme Court (SC) to dismiss the petition filed by civic leaders to cancel his certificate of candidacy (COC) for lack of jurisdiction, saying only the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) can look into his eligibility. Marcos Jr. won the presidential race with more than 31 million votes. He leads by around 16 million votes from Vice President Leni Robredo. However, civic grounds wants the SC to reverse the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruling refusing to cancel Marcos Jr.’s COC. Comelec said that while the Court of Appeals affirmed Marcos Jr.’s conviction for non-filing of income tax returns, there is nothing in the ruling that says he is perpetually disqualified from holding public office. But civic leaders noted that the Comelec ruling basically excluded Marcos Jr. from the coverage of the 1977 tax code. They explained that the Court of Appeals did not explicitly mention that Marcos is perpetually disqualified from holding public office “because the Court of Appeals did not have to do so.” In their comment submitted May 31, Marcos Jr., through his lawyer Estelito Mendoza, said: “The Honorable Court is without jurisdiction to issue the temporary restraining order and or enjoin and restrain Congress from canvassing the votes cast for BBM. In addition, the request for a temporary restraining order has become moot.” Marcos Jr. explained that since the proclamation of the winning presidential and vice candidates is over, only the SC, sitting as the PET, is the sole judge of all contests relating to the qualifications of a president. The comment also pointed out that Marcos Jr. did not commit any material misrepresentation in his COC contrary to the claim of the petitioners. “The decision of the Comelec Second Division and the Comelec En Banc on the absence of any false material misrepresentation in the COC is a finding of fact that is entitled to great weight and must be accorded full respect. The Comelec correctly ruled that the petition for cancellation was subject to summary dismissal,” Marcos’ comment said.
Next Senate minority bloc eyed to have at least three members | PHILSTAR.COM – Reelectionist Sen. Risa Hontiveros hopes that there will be at least three lawmakers who will be part of the Senate minority bloc in the upcoming Congress, but believes that strength in numbers are not as important as having a “true minority.” Hontiveros won another term in the Upper House, but is the lone opposition candidate who made it to the so-called “Magic 12” in this year’s polls. “Umaasa kami na at least tatlo kung hindi man mas marami at dahil nang nasabi ko dati, hindi naman ang pinakaimportante ay ang absolute number ng minorya. Ang pinakamahalaga ay tunay na minorya kami,” she told reporters in an interview at the Senate building on Wednesday. (“We are hoping that there will be at least three or more members, but as I said before, having an absolute number is not the most important. What is the most important is having a true minority.”) She explained that a “true minority” will act as a check, serve as a fiscalizer, and work with members of the majority as well. Talks are currently ongoing with possible members of the minority, including Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, although Hontiveros said “he can speak for himself.” Hontiveros, who was proclaimed senator-elect on May 18 at the Philippine International Convention Center, earlier said she is hopeful that members of the opposition in Congress can remain a “true and effective minority” despite possible supermajorities in both chambers. Consensus is needed in passing legislation, but the minority is there to scrutinize them to serve as a check.
Cynthia Villar no longer interested in Senate presidency | PHILSTAR.COM – Sen. Cynthia Villar said Wednesday she is no longer interested in running for the Senate presidency. This means there will be no more term-sharing agreement with Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who is also vying for the top post. “Wala nang (There’s no more) SP (Senate Presidency) race,” Villar told reporters shortly after the Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing on Wednesday. She confirmed that she is not interested anymore in running for the coveted position of Senate leader, who will serve in the 19th Congress. The lawmaker, whose term ends in 2025, added that she is now supporting Zubiri’s bid. Villar and reelectionist Zubiri are both allies of the incoming Marcos administration.
