11 May Comelec to Resolve Pending Appeal on the Disqualification Cases Against Duterte
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In February this year, the First Division of the Comelec dismissed all disqualification cases filed against Duterte via unanimous decision. Commissioners Christian Robert Lim, Rowena Guanzon and Luie Tito Guia compose the said division. However, an appeal for reconsideration of the said decision was filed by two of the petitioners. Now, Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said that the poll body may review the mandate given by the electorate to leading presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte regarding with the resolution of the pending appeal on the disqualification cases against him.
“We will study that, but of course, we know that we also have to respect the mandate given to him by the people,” said Bautista.
When asked why it took a long time for the Comelec to to deliberate on Duterte’s case, Commissioner Luie Guia said that, “We had to rush almost everything” and that the poll body was handling 200 to 300 cases of disqualification. Guia added that their time was occupied much by the last-minute changes in the procedures and preparations for elections.
“It’s difficult to run an election, then we still have to decide on cases, so we apologize if the resolutions of some cases were delayed,” he said.
The said petitions against Duterte were filed by broadcaster Ruben Castor, University of the Philippines Student Council head John Paulo de las Nieves, and disqualified presidential bets Ely Pamatong and Rizalito David.
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