Constitutional crisis possible Sotto warns against stopping Congress from canvassing votes for President, VP
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III today, May 19, warned that a possible Supreme Court decision stopping Congress from canvassing the May 9 votes for President and Vice President would court a constitutional crisis.
Sotto issued the statement after civic leaders on Tuesday have asked the High Tribunal to stop the Senate and House of Representatives from canvassing the votes cast for former senator and presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.
“If that happens, we will be courting a constitutional crisis from the fact that Congress can no longer meet after June 3. Who will then conduct the canvass as mandated by the Constitution?’’ Sotto asked.
Sotto stressed that July 25 is a key date for Congress.
“So, no President or VP (Vice President) by June 30? What do they propose? Holdover? Tell me if that is not a crisis!’’ he added.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, a former Senate President and former Justice Secretary, said the petition would not prosper.
“The Supreme Court cannot restrain or stop the Congress, acting as the National Board of Canvassers, from performing its constitutional duty of canvassing the votes for President and Vice President of the Republic, and proclaiming the winner,’’ he stressed.
The prayer for a restraining order was contained in a petition to reverse the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to dismiss the bid to cancel Marcos’ certiĸcate of candidacy (COC).
“The injunctive relief sought is clearly urgent. Petitioners respectfully ask this Court to act without any delay in considering this application,” the petition said.
The Senate and House of Representatives are scheduled to convene on May 24 to canvass the votes cast for President and Vice President.
The canvassing and proclamation will be held at the House of Representatives.
As of Thursday, May 19, the Senate has received 88.44 percent or 153 of the total 173 COCs.
Transmitted to the Senate were Certiĸcates of Canvass (COCs) and Election Returns (ERs) from Sulu, the US, and Australia.